Kathmandu— Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2024 US Open due to a persistent right knee injury, sidelining him since winning Wimbledon last month. The 25-year-old Italian announced the decision on social media Friday, stating he needs more time to recover despite intensive work with his team and medical staff. Sinner won the US Open in 2024, defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets, but lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final after a competitive match.

Injury Timeline and Recovery Efforts

Sinner sustained the injury following his Wimbledon victory over Alexander Zverev. He subsequently withdrew from warm-up tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, signaling the severity of the issue. Over the past few days, Sinner had been back on court in Monte Carlo attempting to regain fitness, but ultimately determined that more recovery time was needed before returning to competition.

Disappointment and Future Outlook

Sinner expressed his sadness over missing the US Open, a tournament he described as holding a special place in his heart. “I’m obviously very sad and disappointed,” Sinner posted on X, adding that he had been looking forward to playing in front of the New York fans again. He is 44-3 with six titles this year, but suffered an unexpected loss at the French Open where he squandered a two-set lead.

Rivalry and Tournament Implications

Sinner’s absence impacts the US Open field, particularly given his recent dominance in Grand Slam finals. His rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz has been a defining feature of men's tennis in recent years, having met in the last three major championship matches. Alcaraz himself recently announced he is fit to play after recovering from a right wrist injury.

Sinner’s withdrawal marks the first time he will miss a Grand Slam tournament since his debut at the US Open in 2019 and leaves an opening for other contenders to challenge for the title.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.