New York, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and British star Jack Draper have withdrawn from the 2026 US Open because of injuries, dealing a significant blow to the men’s singles field and ending hopes of another high-profile Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz clash in New York.
Sinner confirmed his withdrawal on Friday, saying he needed additional time to recover from a persistent right knee injury. The Italian has not competed since successfully defending his Wimbledon title last month and had already missed the hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati.
“Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner said.
“We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue,” he added.
Sinner won the US Open in 2024 before losing last year’s final to Alcaraz. His absence means the two leading figures of men’s tennis will again miss a chance to meet at a Grand Slam, with Alcaraz having confirmed his return to Flushing Meadows after a four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury.
Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated men’s Grand Slam tennis in recent years, meeting repeatedly in major finals. Sinner’s withdrawal now opens the draw further for Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and leading American contenders.
Draper also announced his withdrawal as he continues to struggle with a persistent injury to his left arm. The former world No. 4 has endured an interrupted 2026 season and will now miss all four Grand Slam tournaments this year.
Draper, who reached the US Open semifinals in 2024, has been dealing with the arm problem for an extended period and recently suffered early defeats after returning to competition.
The 2026 US Open main draw is scheduled to begin on August 30 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
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