A Double Blow for the Draw
Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper have both officially withdrawn from the 2026 US Open, delivering a significant shake-up to the men's field before the tournament even begins. Sinner, who has not competed since lifting the Wimbledon trophy in July, confirmed on social media that a right knee problem has forced him out. The five-time Grand Slam champion admitted the decision came after returning to court in Monte Carlo and realizing he still needed more recovery time. "I'm obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart," he wrote. The withdrawal means Sinner will shed 1,300 ranking points he earned by reaching the 2025 US Open final, though he remains comfortably at the top of the world rankings.
Draper's withdrawal follows a deeply difficult stretch. The 24-year-old British player has been managing a bone bruise in his dominant left arm for more than a year, and has played only 16 matches in the past 12 months while missing every Grand Slam in 2026. He traveled to the United States for the Cincinnati Open but lost in the first round and described himself as being in a "difficult place" mentally and physically. He has modified his strings, racket, and serve action in an effort to manage chronic pain, but concluded he needs still more time before competing at the highest level.
A Rivalry on Pause
Sinner's absence means that he and Carlos Alcaraz, who confirmed his own return to Flushing Meadows just one day earlier after a four-month wrist injury layoff, will miss each other for the third consecutive Grand Slam. Their much-anticipated rivalry, which produced a combined eight major titles across 2024 and 2025, has been consistently disrupted by health setbacks on both sides. With Sinner out, Alexander Zverev enters as a strong contender after winning the French Open and reaching the Wimbledon final this season. TennisDraw users will want to revisit their bracket picks carefully, with the men's draw now wide open heading into New York.
