# Sinner’s US Open Withdrawal Leaves a Flawed Flushing Meadows Searching for Its Spark

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished August 22, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the US Open due to a right knee injury, marking the first time in his professional career that he will miss a Grand Slam main draw.

When world number one Jannik Sinner issued his statement withdrawing from the 2026 US Open, he broke a streak that had defined his entire professional trajectory. Since turning pro in 2018, Sinner had never once missed a Grand Slam tournament. But a persistent right knee issue—one that has kept him off the competitive stage since he lifted the Wimbledon title in July—proved too stubborn to overcome.

*“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,”* Sinner stated via social media.

Sinner explained that after returning to the practice courts in Monte Carlo, he and his team realized he still required more time to recover. While a member of his team told BBC Sport that the injury does not require surgery, the setback robs New York of its reigning 2024 champion and forces the 25-year-old Italian to stay in Europe for further rehabilitation, with sights set on a return during the Asian hard-court swing in October.

The withdrawal creates a staggering reality for the men's game: for the third consecutive Grand Slam tournament, the sport's defining duopoly has been incomplete. Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz carved out a total dominance across 2024 and 2025, splitting eight majors evenly between them. Yet 2026 has fractured that rhythm. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury before finally returning to the draw in New York, while Sinner's knee issue now sidelines him at Flushing Meadows. With Sinner out, Germany's Alexander Zverev ascends to the top seed position in New York, followed by Alcaraz and Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. Spain's Carlos Taberner steps into the main draw to take Sinner's spot.

Compounding the mood around Flushing Meadows is a wave of fan frustration entirely separate from the player withdrawals. Ticket pricing for the tournament has sparked fierce online backlash. Reports indicate that resale prices for a basic grounds pass—which permits entry to the grounds and smaller outer courts without guaranteeing a stadium seat—have hovered around $363 on Ticketmaster, compared to $262 at the same juncture in 2025. Even face-value ticket costs climbed, with the USTA raising grounds pass prices from $60 to $65.

Prominent figures and commentators have voiced sharp criticism over the economic shift:

- **Bill Ackman** posted on X questioning the non-profit USTA's mission: *“The idea that a day one ground pass is $363 is absurd. The USTA’s mission is to promote the sport of tennis. How is a $363 ground pass consistent with this mission?”*
- **Hanlon Walsh** noted on social media: *“10 years ago, I paid $50 for a grounds pass on my first trip to the US Open... It's a shame that the USO is now pricing out so many tennis fans from having similar experiences.”*
- Other observers criticized the influx of corporate brand tickets and influencers, lamenting that the historic tournament risks morphing into an exclusive social scene rather than a gathering for dedicated tennis purists.As Flushing Meadows prepares for Fan Week, the tournament navigates an awkward juxtaposition. Alcaraz is back to defend his title and test his recovered wrist, but the absence of Sinner—coupled with the soaring cost of attendance—leaves the year's final major missing its undisputed summit clash.

## Sources

- [bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cvgw2qg3e70o) — original
- [dailymail.com](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/tennis/article-16070167/us-open-jannik-sinner-injury-withdrawal.html) — original
- [ausopen.com](https://ausopen.com/articles/news/janniks-back-sinner-successfully-defends-ao-title) — original
- [tennis.com](https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/home-favorite-jannik-sinner-withdraws-from-italian-open-madrid-felix-because-of-hip-injury) — original