Sinner will not compete in US Open: The path is clear for Alcaraz

The No. 1 player in the ATP rankings, Jannik Sinner, confirmed that he will not compete in the 2026 U.S. Open due to an injury to his right knee that he has been dealing with for weeks and that prevented him from competing in the Cincinnati Masters 1000, the lead-up to the season's final Grand Slam.

In a statement, the world's current top-ranked tennis player reported that, despite his efforts to recover, he will ultimately be unable to compete.

"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," announced Sinner, 25.

"We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have reali[z]ed that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue. I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there," he added.

The Italian tennis player is dominating the 2026 season with an impressive record of 44 wins and three losses, and six titles, including Wimbledon.

Alcaraz confirms he will play

His biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, will be there. The No. 2 player in the ATP rankings confirmed that he will compete in the 2026 US Open, since, unlike Sinner, he has managed to recover from an injury to one of his wrists.

"HERE WE GO!" wrote Alcaraz on X, accompanying his post with two emojis—one of the American flag and another of a waving hand.

Alcaraz, the defending champion of the tournament, will be seeking his third U.S. Open title—following his victories in 2022 and last year—and his eighth Grand Slam.