The world’s best player wasn’t at Flushing Meadows this year. Jannik Sinner’s knee injury forced him out of the 2026 US Open due to a persistent right knee injury, ruling him out of the final Grand Slam of the season.
It’s a significant blow — both for Sinner’s 2026 campaign and for a tournament that had been building toward a potential showdown at the top of the men’s game.
How We Got Here
Sinner hasn’t played a competitive match since lifting the Wimbledon title last month. The knee issue first surfaced when he withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, at the time saying he was optimistic about being fit in time for New York. That optimism didn’t hold.
In a statement shared on social media, Sinner explained that despite working closely with his team and medical staff, the decision to sit out the US Open had become unavoidable. He said returning to practice courts in Monte Carlo over the past few days made clear he still needs more time to recover from the knee issue.
He added that missing the tournament was a genuine disappointment, describing New York as a city with special meaning for him and saying he’d been looking forward to playing in front of the crowd at Flushing Meadows again.
How the US Open Played Out Without Him
Sinner’s absence was historic in itself: it was the first time a world No. 1 had missed a major since Wimbledon 2019 (Wikipedia).
Alexander Zverev, seeded first in Sinner’s place, took his chance. He beat home favourite Ben Shelton in four sets in the final on 13 September to win his second major (ESPN). Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz played despite returning from a wrist injury.
Latest Update: China Open Withdrawal
The recovery is taking longer than hoped. On 25 September, Sinner pulled out of the China Open, where he’s the defending champion. “My knee is not where I would like it to be, and I’m not ready to compete yet,” he said (Al Jazeera).
He’s still ranked world No. 1, but the longer he’s out, the more that lead is at risk heading into the end-of-season events.
Jannik Sinner Knee Injury: Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Wins Wimbledon, his last match to date |
| August 2026 | Withdraws from the Canadian Open |
| August 2026 | Withdraws from Cincinnati |
| 21 August 2026 | Withdraws from the US Open |
| 13 September 2026 | Zverev wins the US Open |
| 25 September 2026 | Withdraws from the China Open |
A Costly Gap in an Otherwise Strong Season
Context matters here — this isn’t a player in crisis, it’s a player having to protect a body that’s carried him to the top of the sport. Sinner’s Wimbledon win last month was the highlight of his season, and the knee problem has clearly been managed carefully rather than ignored, given the Cincinnati withdrawal came weeks before this one.
Still, missing the US Open leaves a real gap on his 2026 résumé, and how quickly he can return to full fitness will shape how the rest of the year — and early 2027 — plays out for the world No. 1.
Sources: Sky Sports, Al Jazeera, ESPN.
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