NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 08: Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates with the winners trophy after defeating Taylor Fritz of the United States to win the Men’s Singles Final on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the U.S. Open due to a knee injury, which opens the draw for Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and other competitors.
“Although I have been working diligently with my team and medical staff, we have decided it is necessary to withdraw from this year’s US Open,” the 24‑year‑old Italian announced on social media. “We have returned to the court in Monte Carlo over the past few days and realize that additional time is required to recover from my right‑knee injury. I am deeply saddened and disappointed, as New York holds a special place in my heart, and I had been eager to return and compete before the enthusiastic crowd.”
At 25, Sinner is the reigning Wimbledon champion and captured the 2024 U.S. Open title, only to be defeated in last year’s final by Alcaraz.
Together, Sinner and Alcaraz have won 10 of the past 11 major championships.
Alcaraz is slated to be the top seed, though he has been inactive since April because of a wrist injury.
Zverev secured his maiden Grand Slam at the French Open earlier this year and will compete as the No. 2 seed.
Djokovic continues to chase a record‑breaking 25th major title, his last triumph coming at the 2023 U.S. Open.
American players Ben Shelton and former U.S. Open finalist Taylor Fritz also have a strong chance, especially now that Sinner is absent and Alcaraz is still recovering from injury.
The champion of the singles event will receive a record prize of $5.5 million.
