Jannik Sinner, the world No.1, and Carlos Alcaraz, ranked second, are both absent from the tour in early August. The Italian has withdrawn from the Canadian Open and is in Italy undergoing medical examinations. The Spaniard, sidelined with a wrist injury since April, has pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters 1000. With the US Open three weeks away, men's tennis is moving forward without its two leading figures.
Alcaraz, four months away from competition
The defending US Open champion has not played an official match since withdrawing from the Barcelona tournament in April. His wrist injury, initially described as minor, has proven more serious than expected. It forced him to miss both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, the two Grand Slams where he had triumphed in the previous two seasons. His withdrawal from Cincinnati, announced on Tuesday, pushes a potential comeback directly onto American soil. Alcaraz could attempt a return at the Winston-Salem Open on August 23, but nothing is confirmed. If he heads straight to Flushing Meadows, he will have gone over four months without a single competitive match, a significant handicap when defending a Grand Slam title.
Sinner chooses caution
The world No.1 opted not to push his body at Montreal. "After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw. It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritise my health," Sinner said in a statement. The Italian visited the J-Medical centre in Turin and a specialist clinic in Milan for what his camp described as preventive check-ups ahead of the North American hard-court swing. His team is targeting a return at Cincinnati on August 17, which would give him two weeks of competition before the US Open. The cautious approach, however, raises questions about his true physical condition.
[Zverev](/tennis/players/zverev-alexander) holds all the cards
With his two main rivals absent, Alexander Zverev finds himself in a prime position. The top seed in Montreal after winning Roland-Garros in June, the German has a clear path to accumulate valuable hard-court points. A deep run in Canada followed by a strong showing in Cincinnati could position him as a serious contender for the world No.1 ranking by the end of the US Open. The men's tennis hierarchy rests on three names today, and two of them are on forced rest.
The next generation seizes its chance
The void at the top benefits those on the rise. João Fonseca, just 19, knocked out Tsitsipas in Montreal on Wednesday and will face Casper Ruud in the third round. Ben Shelton, the defending champion in Canada, is advancing with authority. Taylor Fritz, fresh off his title win in Washington, arrives in peak form on this fast surface. Daniil Medvedev remains a formidable force on hard courts. If Sinner and Alcaraz arrive in New York lacking match rhythm and competitive sharpness, these players will have a historic opportunity to reshape the established order.
What history tells us about comebacks without rhythm
Returning to a Grand Slam without competitive matches remains a perilous exercise. Rafael Nadal learned this lesson multiple times in the latter stages of his career, suffering early exits after extended absences. Raw talent alone does not always compensate for the lack of match reflexes, the pressure management in crucial moments, and the specific demands of a five-set Grand Slam format. For Alcaraz, the challenge will be immense: defending a major title after four months of competitive silence. For Sinner, everything depends on the nature of these medical examinations and his ability to string together matches in Cincinnati. The race to the 2026 US Open promises to be as unpredictable as it is exciting, and the draw could deliver surprises that the rankings do not suggest.
