Daniil Medvedev Speaks Candidly About Jannik Sinner After His Withdrawal

As usual, Daniil Medvedev didn’t mince words when commenting on Jannik Sinner’s absence from the U.S. Open and what it means for the entire tour. The Russian tennis player spoke at a press conference on the eve of the season’s final Grand Slam tournament, where he hopes to perform well after a year with more lows than highs.

“Anyone who has two good weeks will have a chance to win. When Jannik Sinner is here, beating him is a huge challenge, and not many players have managed to do so this year. Without him, the draw is clearly more open, but there are some guys who go deep in every tournament and will try to ruin the opportunity for everyone else.”

Carlos Alcaraz, who is returning to the court at Flushing Meadows after more than four months off due to a wrist injury, sent a message to his top rival: “I think we all feel the same way: it’s strange that someone like Jannik isn’t here at a major tournament like this. We haven’t seen each other in months; I wish him all the best.”

Matteo Berrettini also wanted to dedicate a thought to Sinner, reflecting on the increasingly demanding intensity of modern tennis: “It’s part of our journey, part of the life we lead, part of the intensity of this sport, which has truly become almost too much.” Sinner is undergoing a recovery program with the utmost caution at J Medical in Turin, without picking up a racket. His return to official competition is expected at the ATP 500 in Beijing, scheduled for September 30 through October 6, where the South Tyrolean champion will compete as the defending champion. His absence from New York, however, will have consequences for the Race: if Alexander Zverev wins the US Open, he could overtake Sinner in the season standings and put pressure on his position at the top of the ATP rankings.