Er hatte es befürchtet: Keine US-Open! Sinner sagt für Grand Slam ab, reports Sport Bild, shattering the late-summer narrative of a historic title defense in Queens. For months, the tennis world anticipated whether the 24-year-old Italian powerhouse could break a 17-year drought at Flushing Meadows, where no men's singles champion has successfully defended the trophy since Roger Federer won his fifth straight in 2008. Instead, the physical and competitive toll of an unrelenting calendar has forced the world number one to the sidelines.
To understand the magnitude of this withdrawal is to look at the unprecedented territory Sinner has carved out across the tour. Earlier in the season, the red-headed Alpine quietist triumphed at the Australian Open, defeating Alexander Zverev 6:3, 7:6, 6:3 to secure his third career major. By July, he added a fifth Grand Slam crown to his resume on the grass of Wimbledon, again overcoming Zverev in a grueling 3-hour and 46-minute four-set battle: 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4. Those victories anchored a staggering streak of 26 consecutive match wins across hard-court majors in Melbourne and New York.
Yet, the specific grueling mechanics of the US Open have long made it the least predictable of the four grand slams. As legendary Australian Patrick Rafter noted regarding the tournament's chaotic environment, players routinely battle intrusive elements: Vždycky jsem byl jedním z těch lidí, kteří měli rádi, když se ostatní cítili nepohodlně, protože jsem věděl, že mám výhodu Patrick Rafter. From the deafening roar of overhead planes and honking traffic along the transit corridors from Manhattan hotels to the grounds in Queens, to the sensory overload of hot dog vendors and restless fans speaking during live points, the tournament demands a distinct mental armor.
World-class players have frequently voiced the unique strain of the New York fortnight. Iga Świątek previously pointed to the logistical friction of staying isolated in the city: A taky se tu moc nehledí na hráče, všemu vévodí show a byznys. Zůstat tu ve své bublině je vážně těžké Iga Świątek. Alexander Zverev similarly highlighted the compounding fatigue of the late-season schedule, noting that surprises proliferate as the months wear on.
For Sinner, the inability to chase a consecutive New York crown alters the historical landscape of 2026. Last year, he navigated an intense media spotlight and outside pressures to capture the Flushing Meadows title, later defeating Taylor Fritz in the final while dedicating his triumph to his ailing aunt. His grounding remains rooted in the quiet alpine village of Sesto in northeastern Italy, where his father Hanspeter works long shifts as a chef and his mother manages local apartments. Returning there to play cards, ping-pong, and hike with childhood friends has historically provided his antidote to the circus of professional tennis.
Now, rather than walking onto the hard courts of Flushing Meadows to chase history and join the elite company of past back-to-back champions, Sinner must reset. The quest for a calendar Grand Slam milestone will have to wait, leaving an unexpected vacuum at the final major of the season.
Sources
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- isport.blesk.cz original
- marca.com original
- denik.cz original
- sport.cz original
