Jannik Sinner’s absence continues to be felt at the 2026 US Open, and the world No 1 has offered a short update on the right knee issue that forced him out of the tournament.

The 25-year-old Italian has not competed since beating Alexander Zverev in four sets in the Wimbledon championship match on 12 July. He later missed the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati before pulling out of the US Open.

Last week, Sinner posted on Instagram and said missing the final Grand Slam of the season was “tough”. He wrote: “Missing the US Open this year is tough,” wrote Sinner. “I was looking forward to being back with the fans, seeing friends and partners.

“New York has a special place in my heart. For now, back to recovery and working to come back stronger. Good luck to all the players! See you soon”

Sinner, who is known to be a Formula One fan, was at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix on Sunday and was asked about his knee. Speaking to Italian newspaper la Repubblica, he said: “The knee? It’s all fine,”

He has not yet said when he plans to return, although he remains on the entry list for his scheduled tournaments after the US Open. Sky Sport Italy reported last month that “the primary option on the table” was a comeback during the Asian swing in Beijing and Shanghai.

Sinner is the reigning China Open champion, and the 2026 ATP 500 event in Beijing begins on 30 September.

When he announced his US Open withdrawal, 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.”

Alex Eala has wrapped up her North American hard-court stretch after a third-round exit at the US Open, with her next stop set for Asia on the WTA Tour calendar.

The Filipina’s trip through the United States and Canada covered seven busy weeks and began at the Washington DC Open. From there, she moved on to the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open and then the US Open, following the productive grass-court season that preceded it.

Her best result of the swing came at the WTA 500 Citi DC Open, where she defeated Zheng Qinwen, Leylah Fernandez, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula on the way to her first WTA singles title. She then reached the round of 16 in Toronto before going out in the second round in Cincinnati.

After that, she responded in New York with a career-best run to the third round at the US Open, where she fell in three sets to good friend Iva Jovic. Although the result ended her campaign, it also closed a North American spell that delivered both a title and a further deep Grand Slam run.

Eala had already confirmed she will represent the Philippines at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. During her post-match press conference at the US Open, she also made clear she has one more WTA Tour event before that.

“Before that I believe I’ll be in Singapore,” she said.

The Singapore Open is scheduled for 21-27 September, and Eala is set for her second appearance at the event. This time, however, she will enter the main draw for the first time. She played there in February 2025 but lost in the second round of qualifying.

Eala is expected to be seeded sixth in Singapore thanks to her current WTA Ranking of 18. After that, she will head to Japan for the Asian Games, which run from 27 September to 3 October at Higashiyama Park Tennis Centre.

Her decision to play there means she will miss the China Open in Beijing, but she is expected to return later in China for the Wuhan Open. The Asia swing runs until 8 November, and while her remaining schedule is not yet confirmed, she is expected to add more events before the season ends.

Alex Eala left her postmatch press conference struggling to hold back tears after a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 loss to Iva Jovic at the US Open, but the significance of what comes next may help turn that pain into something far greater over time.

For weeks, Eala has drawn attention far beyond the usual surge around a young player. Her name has carried weight across tennis websites, podcasts, YouTube and news channels, with her following proving how deeply she resonates with fans around the world. Yet her rise has also made one thing clear over the past few months: this is not just a story built on online buzz.

What Eala and Jovic showed in their third-round meeting on Saturday night was that women’s tennis can match the men’s game for tension, quality and drama. The match featured two young players competing with courage, skill and conviction, and the result was a contest that stretched for three hours and three minutes.

It was, by any reasonable measure, the standout match of the women’s year so far, and there is a case for saying it was more gripping than any men’s match played in 2026.

Jovic, only 18, looks like a future Grand Slam champion. Eala appears to be on the same path. Together, they offered a reminder that the women’s tour has found two emerging names capable of becoming central figures now, not only later.

After the defeat, Eala spoke with composure and honesty, saying she has ‘yet to process’ what her US Open campaign has taught her. She also became emotional when reflecting on what it means to represent her country on the biggest stage.

“It’s indescribable to sum up that support and how it makes me feel in a few words,” she said. “It’s a real privilege to experience this.”

She added: “Playing on Arthur Ashe and feeling the support and learning these lessons, I’m really lucky to have this opportunity. To be able to live this life the way I am doing.”

If Eala continues to develop at the pace she has shown in recent weeks, more chances at the US Open should follow. Add a little more weight to her serve and refine the few rough edges still in her game, and she will give herself every opportunity to go all the way on Arthur Ashe Stadium.