Jannik Sinner on Friday withdrew from the US Open with his continuing knee problems, with the world No. 1 aiming to be back on court for the ATP’s autumn Asian swing.

The Italian has not played since winning Wimbledon, making pullouts from the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters event.

The Open received some possible good news when injured Carlos Alcaraz posted on social media that he would be in New York but provided few details if he was speaking of singles or the exhibition celebrity mixed doubles playoff set for next week.

The Spaniard hurt his wrist in mid-April and has not played since,all the while dropping hints of a comeback.

“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 said in a statement. .

“We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue,” Sinner added.

“I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart.”

Also missing from the field at the last Grand Slam of the season will be chronically injured Brit Jack Draper, plagued by a long-term arm injury.

He has managed 16 matches over the past year, most recently losing at the ongoing Cincinnati Masters after going out in the first round the week before in Montreal..

Main photo:-Wimbledon 2026 Jannik Sinner with Mens Singles Trophy by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Alexander Zverev and local favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime both made early exits on Wednesday from the Montreal Masters, leaving the event scratching for interest.

With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic non-starters, the loss of the top two seeds was not a welcome blow.

French open winner Zvererv, a month removed from his final against Sinner in London, was ambushed 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 by determined Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

Defeat by the No. 69 marked a poor start to the US Open run-up for Zverev.

FAA puled the plug a few hours earlier after a back injury sustained in training failed to heal.

“I started having pain Monday. It was quite sudden. I was training here for two weeks, and I had zero problems. 

“The timing is tough for it to happen here. I was lucky to get an extra day to prepare, as I was ready to play Tuesday night.

“I thought that day by day things would get better, but I tried to go on court today.  I basically couldn’t serve really. It was impossible for me to think about even competing.”

The world No. 4 drawcard threw event bosses into a panic.

“I’m not going to lie, we were hoping that Felix was going to win at least a few matches here in Montreal,” tournament director Valerie Tetreault said. “He’s definitely the player everybody was talking about, and people wanted to know when he was going to play.”

There was a win for holder and fifth seed Ben Shelton who erased a lae deficit to defeat US compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 7-5, winning six of the last seven games.

Shelton has won seven straight matches in Canada.

“Defending is tough, i had to get over pre-tournament nerves but I got my first straight-set win of the summer season. Jenson is a nightmare match-up for me, to win it is a huge positive,” the winner said.

Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to Joao Fonseca in the second round.

The 19-year-old Brazilian winner was competing for the first time in a month and quickly managed nine aces among his 31 winners.

“The younger Joao would have lost his mind,” the winner said. “But I’m more mature now. I knew it would be difficult for me after a few weeks of not playing.

“I just kept going, felt good. At 6-5 I was ready to serve for the match again. I’ve played all of the (ranking) top five, so I have the experience,” added the 19-year-old. “That has helped me use my mental strength.”

Fonseca next plays ninth seed Casper Ruud, who beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-1, 6-2.-

Main photo:- Tallon Griekspoor: upset Alexander Zverev – by ATPTour.com

Alexander Zverev maintained his near-perfect first-round success rate at Roland Garros as the second seed produced a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Benjamin Bonzi to advance on Sunday’s opening day.

The German who played the final here in 2024 against Carlos Alcaraz, has passed the Paris first round for the tenth time in 11 appearances.

He won in sweltering 33 Celsius conditions, which are expected to last for through the coming Week 1

The 29-year-old who has been bothered by recent back issues due to a busy match schedule, nevertheless has compiled an impressive spring clay record, reaching the Madrid final along with semi-finals in Monte Carlo and Munich.

He stumbled in the Rome Masters run-up, going out in the fourth round to Luciano Darderi as his back worry played up, causing him to withdraw from Geneva.

Zverev made his move into the second round in around two hours over the No 98.

“It was a good start, it’s sometimes as simple as that,” Zverev said, “I won in three sets. 

“It was an opening match against an opponent who can make it difficult against good players. He’s shown that in the past, and I handled it well.

“That’s what I’m the most happy about.”

Zverev advanced to the semi-finals at three of four clay events played this season, highlighted by a run to the Madrid final.

Australian James Duckworth booked the first second-round spot of the fortnight after winning an abbreviated opening match, defeating injured Canadian Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 4-1 in barely an hour.

Karen Khachanov dished out the first French loss of the tournament as he defeated Arthur Gea 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-0,with the 140th-ranked wild card forced to rush off court at one point for a bathroom emergency.

Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina needed more than four hours to complete a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Damir Dzumhur.

“Today was a very tough match, I didn’t expect that it was going to be that hot today,” the winner said.

“I suffered a lot with this heat. At the beginning, I was not feeling very good, so I needed to change a little bit my plans.

“Physically I was struggling a little bit. At the end, I was a little bit lucky
playing two, three shots. I made a lot of winners.”

He said the win needed extra effort after playing last week in the cool 10 Celsius of Hamburg,