Top-seeded tennis player Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the upcoming U.S. Open due to an ongoing right knee injury, which has kept him out of competition since his Wimbledon victory. Sinner had claimed his second consecutive title at Wimbledon by defeating Alexander Zverev before opting out of the Montreal and Cincinnati tournaments, which are usually warm-up events for the U.S. Open.

In a recent statement, the 25-year-old Italian expressed his regret at not being able to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, citing the need for more time to recover from his knee problem. Sinner highlighted his disappointment as New York holds a special place in his heart, and he was eagerly anticipating returning to the energetic atmosphere and playing in front of the passionate fans.

Sinner, who emerged victorious at the 2024 U.S. Open, faced defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in the previous year’s final. Alcaraz, who has been recovering from a right wrist injury since April, confirmed his readiness to participate in the upcoming U.S. Open after declaring his absence on social media.

The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has been a dominant force in men’s tennis, with the two players meeting in the last three Grand Slam finals in 2025. Alcaraz emerged victorious in their latest encounter, clinching a four-set win at the New York event, thereby ending Sinner’s title streak following his triumph over Taylor Fritz in the 2024 final.

Despite an impressive record of 44 wins and 3 losses with six titles this year, Sinner faced a setback at the French Open, where he suffered a defeat after squandering a two-set lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Italian player bounced back at Wimbledon, securing his fifth Grand Slam title.

This will mark the first time Sinner will miss a Grand Slam tournament since his debut at the U.S. Open in 2019.