Jannik Sinner made his first statement on social media since confirming his absence from this year's US Open, clearly revealing that he is missing the action in New York. The world number one will not participate in the final Grand Slam of 2026 due to a knee issue, a situation that coincides with the return of his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz, who also faced a wrist injury.
Sinner's absence from the tournament sent shockwaves through the tennis world, and although he did not indicate when he plans to return, the Wimbledon champion shared a positive message on his Instagram account. “Missing the US Open this year is tough. I was looking forward to being back with the fans, seeing friends and partners. New York holds a special place in my heart. For now, back to recovery and working to come back stronger. Good luck to all the players! See you soon,” Sinner wrote.
His post was not limited to expressing nostalgia; it also included a mention of the hotel where he usually stays in New York, leading some to suggest that he took the opportunity to promote a sponsor. Sinner's absence represents a significant loss for the US Open, but it also highlights the ongoing debate about injuries in tennis.
In recent years, many top players have been sidelined for long periods, and the issue of the different balls used, as well as the exhausting tennis calendar, has been raised again. Alcaraz intensified this discussion by stating that he plans to take extended breaks in the future, a statement that will certainly raise eyebrows among tennis officials, who impose rules requiring players to participate in the most significant events. “Obviously, I don’t want to take this break because of an injury, but in the future, I will take some breaks… some long breaks,” Alcaraz said. “Maybe not four months, but one month, two months… starting to miss some tournaments because it’s impossible to play them all. They are adding more important tournaments. In a way, they are forcing us to play.”
The nature of Sinner's knee injury remains a mystery. While there are suggestions that it is not a serious issue, it is unclear when he plans to return to competition. One possibility is his comeback at the lucrative Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia at the end of October. Images of the player training in the gym confirm that he is staying in good shape to ensure he will be ready to play as soon as his knee has recovered.
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