Sinner & Draper withdraw from US Open

By

BBC Sport tennis news reporter

World number one Jannik Sinner and Britain's Jack Draper have both pulled out of the upcoming US Open through injury.

The 25-year-old Sinner has not played competitively since winning the Wimbledon title in July and is dealing with a knee problem.

Sinner's decision comes a day after his great rival Carlos Alcaraz announced he is competing at Flushing Meadows following a four-month absence with a wrist injury.

"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," said Sinner.

Draper, who lost to the Italian in the 2024 US Open semi-finals, has withdrawn because of the long-term arm injury which has stalled the 24-year-old's progress.

The former British number one was ranked inside the world's top five when he suffered bone bruising in his left serving arm.

Draper looked primed to challenge the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, having won the biggest title of his career on the Indian Wells hard courts and reaching the Madrid Open final on the clay.

He has played just 16 matches in the past 12 months and missed all four Grand Slam tournaments this year.

Sinner claimed the second Grand Slam title of his career when he won the US Open in 2024 and reached the New York final again last year when he was beaten by Alcaraz.

He lifted his fifth career Grand Slam singles title by beating Alexander Zverev in the All England Club final.

"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," Sinner added.

"I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart."

Sinner and Alcaraz produced a clean sweep of the Grand Slam titles in 2024 and 2025, winning four majors apiece in a duopoly which has morphed into a generational duel.

However, the pair's rivalry has been unable to reach the same heights and intensity.

Sinner's withdrawal means the pair have not both been present at the past three Grand Slams, with Alcaraz's wrist problem forcing him out of the French Open and Wimbledon.

At the season-opening Australian Open, Sinner's shock loss to an inspired Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals stopped a fourth Grand Slam final in a row between him and the 23-year-old Alcaraz.

Three of last year's four major finals were contested by Sinner and Alcaraz, as well as the end-of-season ATP Finals, which served to underline how far clear they were of their rivals in the men's game.

This year, the pair have gone head-to-head only once.

Sinner beat Alcaraz in April's Monte Carlo final which ensured the Italian reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings - a place which he has not looked like relinquishing since.

In his absence, Germany's Zverev will be the top seed at Flushing Meadows, ahead of Alcaraz and Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The US Open singles main draws start on Sunday 30 August.

Seeing the greatest talents go head-to-head at the biggest tournaments - when they are fit, healthy and playing at their peak - is what every sports fan wants.

But, for the third successive Grand Slam tournament, those who love tennis have been deprived of seeing the two standout stars of the men's game in the same draw.

On Thursday, they were given the gift of Alcaraz announcing he was fit to play in New York after a long spell on the sidelines. Sinner's withdrawal on Friday took away some of that joy.

His news was perhaps even more surprising. It seemed like not playing in Cincinnati was simply a precautionary move to ensure he was fully fit for Flushing Meadows.

The exact nature of his knee injury - and the extent of the issue - has not been disclosed by the Italian, although BBC Sport has been told by a member of Sinner's team it is not a problem that requires surgery.

After taking an extended break post-Wimbledon, Sinner returned to the practice courts at the end of July, but this week's sessions have shown he is not at the required level to withstand the gruelling nature of a Grand Slam campaign.

It appears to be another example of a top star taking the short-term pain of missing a marquee event in order for the long-term gain of protecting their body in an ever-demanding sport.

Sinner will now spend more time having rehab and practice sessions at home in Monte Carlo as he targets a return to the ATP Tour for the Asian hard-court swing in October.

More to follow.