By Michael Davey
World number one Jannik Sinner recently announced his withdrawal from the upcoming US Open due to an ongoing right-knee injury.
The 2024 champion was last seen lifting his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last month, where he beat French Open winner Alexander Zverev in the final.
And former British star Annabel Croft has lamented Sinner’s non-participation at Flushing Meadows, describing the Italian’s absence as a significant loss for tennis.
Sinner announces injury withdrawal
In a statement posted on his social media, Sinner said: “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.
“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.”
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Croft laments ‘great loss’
Reflecting on the news, Croft told Sky Sports: “It’s quite a shock to be honest.
“We knew he hadn’t played the last couple of events and he was resting, but that whole idea was to get ready for the US Open.
“It’s a big blow to tennis because it feels like a long time ago that we had [Carlos] Alcaraz and Sinner in the events together and it feels like a great loss.”
Tour schedule in spotlight
Croft added on the gruelling nature of the ATP Tour: “It underlines how relentless and demanding the tour is physically.
“He won those five back-to-back Masters 1000 titles, which was absolutely exceptional and a phenomenal achievement, but when he got to Roland-Garros there was not much left in the tank and it cost him perhaps the French Open title.
“Then we saw him rebound at Wimbledon, which he built with each match, but once again his body has let himself down.
“For all of these players, it’s such a difficult balance.
“You keep trying to play the tour, play the mandatory events, but you also want to peak at the Grand Slams – and it’s not quite happening at the moment.”
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