A Growing Absence List at Flushing Meadows
The 2026 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City is already underway, but the draw has taken some serious hits before the tournament could fully get going. A total of 21 players have now withdrawn from the year's final Grand Slam, with Norwegian star Casper Ruud becoming the latest high-profile name to step aside. The 27-year-old, a three-time Grand Slam finalist and former world No. 2, confirmed his withdrawal on Instagram shortly after play began on Sunday, August 30. His exit came after a back injury forced him to retire during his opening match at the Cincinnati Masters, and he acknowledged that recovery had not progressed as quickly as his team had hoped. Ruud described the decision as heartbreaking but necessary, stressing the importance of long-term health over short-term competition.
Sinner Leads the Absent Stars
Ruud is the second highest-ranked man to withdraw from the tournament, behind world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who pulled out due to a right knee injury. Sinner won the 2024 US Open and finished runner-up in 2025, but has not competed since claiming his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. Other notable absentees from the men's draw include Joao Fonseca, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Ugo Humbert, Holger Rune, and Sebastian Korda. Defending singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are both present and chasing their third US Open titles. With so many top players sidelined, the draw has opened up significantly for those still competing. TennisDraw users will want to update their bracket picks carefully given the shuffled field heading into the second week.
