NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates with the winners trophy after defeating Taylor Fritz of the United States to win the Men's Singles Final on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWorld No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the U.S. Open with a knee injury, opening up the draw for Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and others.“Even though I have been working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,” the 24-year-old Italian announced on social media. “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. I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.”Sinner, 25, is the reigning Wimbledon champion and won the U.S. Open in 2024 before falling in last year’s final to Alcaraz.He and Alcaraz have combined to win 10 of the last 11 major titles.Alcaraz will be the No. 1 seed at the event but he has not played since April due to a wrist injury.Zverev won the French Open for his first major earlier this year and will be the No. 2 seed.Djokovic is still bidding for a record 25th major title but has not won a major since the 2023 U.S. Open.Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, a former U.S. Open finalist, also have a puncher’s chance, especially now with Sinner out and Alcaraz coming off injury.This year’s singles winners will receive a record $5.5 million.MORE FOR YOU