The Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz rivalry that took the tennis world by storm last year has been largely absent in 2026, with Alcaraz sidelined for an extended period due to a wrist injury. Sinner’s absence due to knee discomfort ahead of the US Open has only heightened concerns surrounding the world’s top two players.
As both players continue their rehabilitation, updates have emerged regarding their progress and potential next steps.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Yet to Confirm US Open Participation
Alcaraz played only one match after his Monte-Carlo Masters final loss to Jannik Sinner, which remains their only official meeting of 2026. Days later, he took the court in Barcelona and won his opening match in straight sets, but the victory came at a cost as he experienced wrist discomfort during the contest.
The Spaniard initially played down the issue, suggesting there was little reason for concern. However, further assessments in the days that followed revealed that the injury was more serious than first believed.
He withdrew from the remainder of the clay-court season, and his absence extended into the grass-court swing. The Spaniard also pulled out of the US Open tune-up Masters 1000 events in Montréal and Cincinnati, raising questions about his match fitness and form should he return directly to the best-of-five-set format in New York.
While Alcaraz has yet to make a decision on his US Open participation, he has visibly ramped up his training sessions as he enters the fifth month of his rehabilitation. On Monday, August 17, the Spaniard was spotted training in Murcia with fellow 23-year-old Holger Rune, who has been sidelined since October 2025 after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune practicing together in Murcia.
The tour misses them both ❤ pic.twitter.com/an4Xm9LPCT
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 17, 2026
Spanish reporter Germán Abril, who was on the ground, reported, “Three hours of training under the intense heat of Murcia. A good test for Carlos Alcaraz with Holger Rune.”
Tres horas de entrenamiento bajo el intenso calor de Murcia. Buena prueba para Carlos Alcaraz con Holger Rune.
¡Qué ganas de volver a verlos compitiendo en una pista de tenis! pic.twitter.com/WPGvrc364w
— Germán R. Abril (@gerebit0) August 17, 2026
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner has continued his rehabilitation at J Medical in Turin. The World No. 1 was expected to return to action in Cincinnati following his Wimbledon triumph. He, however, developed discomfort in his right knee while preparing for the North American hardcourt swing, which forced him to withdraw from the tournament.
According to Gazzetta.it, Sinner was spotted at Circolo della Stampa Sporting in Turin on Monday, a venue that also hosts tennis stars for practice during the ATP Finals in November. He reportedly trained indoors to evaluate his recovery and is due to undergo further examinations at J Medical on Tuesday. His US Open participation is expected to depend on whether he is considered fully fit.
Thank you all for the nice birthday wishes ❤️🎂🦊 pic.twitter.com/fHIMYtFReX
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) August 16, 2026
Both Alcaraz and Sinner featured in the 2025 US Open final, with the Spaniard claiming a four-set victory over his arch-rival. As the defending champion, Alcaraz has 2,000 ranking points to defend, while Sinner will be looking to protect the 1,300 points he earned as the runner-up.
