Just In: US Open Nightmare Looms as Carlos Alcaraz and Seven More Tennis Stars Face Possible Absence, Joining Emma Raducanu in a Growing Injury Crisis That Has Left Fans Fearing a Grand Slam Without Some of the Sport’s Biggest Names
The US Open gets underway in just two weeks’ time, but there are plenty of question marks surrounding some top stars. Several players, including Emma Raducanu and Sebastian Korda, have already withdrawn from the final Grand Slam tournament of the season. And more could follow.
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz is still in doubt as he continues to recover from a wrist injury that has ruled him out of competition since April. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has also suffered a fresh setback, while Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova has only just returned to the practice court after skipping the WTA 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. Express Sport takes a look at the eight players who could be forced to miss the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz
The two-time US Open champion has not yet withdrawn from the US Open, but he recently delayed his return to competition. Alcaraz picked up a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April and has not played since, already missing the French Open and Wimbledon.
He had hoped to make a comeback at the Cincinnati Open, but withdrew a week before the tournament began. The world No. 2 has been training in Murcia, but going straight into best-of-five-set matches after four months away is a tall order.
Jannik Sinner
The world No. 1 skipped the recent Canadian Open to rest following his Wimbledon title defence. But Sinner then sparked fears when he visited medical clinics in Italy after feeling discomfort in his knee. He has since withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open, saying: “My right knee has been bothering me, and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet.”
It is believed he should be ready in time for the US Open, but little is known about the state of Sinner’s knee, and he has not played for more than a month.
Holger Rune
Rune has been sidelined since October 2025, when he tore his Achilles tendon at the Stockholm Open. He targeted an ambitious comeback on the clay in May, but has yet to get back on the match court. The former world No. 4 recently appeared on Andy Roddick’s Served Podcast and said he could return for Denmark’s Davis Cup World Group tie on September 18 – after the US Open.
The Dane did take to social media to clarify that he had not yet withdrawn from the last Major of the season, but given his recovery timeline, he may not be ready in time. “I see conclusions on me withdrawing from UsOpen. I did not withdraw. I am working super hard everyday and as soon as I am ready, I am ready. I hope it will be UsOpen,” he tweeted.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Davidovich Fokina’s last appearance came at the ATP 250 event in Umag after Wimbledon, where he lost in the quarter-finals. He withdrew from the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. According to Marca, the world No. 27 is currently dealing with a back injury.
Corentin Moutet
The world No. 60 recently withdrew from the Cincinnati Open and revealed he’d been carrying a wrist injury since last November, and was going to take some time to heal. With the US Open just two weeks away, he may not be ready to compete.
“Living with pain every day has become too hard. That’s why I’ve made the difficult decision to take some time off,” the Frenchman wrote. “I am withdrawing from Cincinnati. It’s never easy to step away, but I need to listen to my body and give it the time it needs. I’ll be back when I’m ready.
Karolina Muchova
Muchova finished runner-up at Wimbledon last month but has not played since, missing the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open after undergoing a “small surgery”. The world No. 7 has since returned to the practice courts and is still hoping to compete in Flushing Meadows.
Jasmine Paolini
The world No. 15 also hasn’t competed since reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, and has been battling a foot injury for months. Paolini has already missed the WTA 1000s in Toronto and Cincinnati as a result of her foot issue. Like Muchova, she’s hoping to recover in time for the US Open.
Jaqueline Cristian
The world No. 40 also hasn’t played since losing in the first round of Wimbledon, and underwent knee surgery last month. While she has not officially withdrawn from the US Open yet, it’s likely the Romanian won’t be ready to return. “Recovery starts now. I’ll see you back on court very soon,” she said following her operation
