In a devastating blow to the final Grand Slam of the year, Italian sensation Jannik Sinner has been forced to withdraw from the US Open. The world number eight is sidelined by a debilitating hip injury, abruptly ending his campaign before a single ball is struck in New York.
The news, confirmed by the tournament organisers, sends shockwaves through the draw and dashes hopes for a highly anticipated rematch with Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz. Their epic Wimbledon quarter-final clash, which Alcaraz eventually won in a gruelling five-set battle, was widely considered one of the matches of the season.
A Season of Promise Cut Short
Sinner's 2023 season has been one of remarkable consistency and breakthrough performances. His run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon marked a significant career milestone, solidifying his status among the elite of men's tennis.
His absence creates a significant void in the bottom half of the draw, which also features defending champion and current world number one, Carlos Alcaraz. A potential quarter-final meeting between the two young titans was a marquee matchup eagerly awaited by fans and pundits alike.
The Official Statement
The USTA released a statement confirming the withdrawal: "Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2023 US Open due to a hip injury. He will be replaced in the main draw by a lucky loser from qualifying."
This development follows a pattern of bad luck for Sinner at Flushing Meadows. Last year, his campaign was also cut short, albeit in a different manner, when he suffered a heartbreaking five-set defeat in the quarter-finals against Alcaraz in a match that concluded at a record-breaking 2:50 am.
His withdrawal now shifts the dynamics of the tournament, opening up a path for other contenders and altering the complexion of the competition even before it begins.
