John McEnroe Gets Straight to the Point About Jannik Sinner and His Absence

Jannik Sinner’s absence from the U.S. Open completely upends all predictions for the season’s final Grand Slam: John McEnroe is certain of this, and in an interview with USA Today, he discussed the withdrawal of Italy’s world No. 1 and the return of Carlos Alcaraz.

“Jannik’s withdrawal is truly a shame, but it does ramp up interest in the rest of the men’s draw. Alcaraz’s return after a four-and-a-half-month hiatus is electrifying, but it’s a real pity that now that he’s back, Jannik Sinner has gotten injured. However, this potentially opens the door for 10 other players, given that we have to be a little concerned about Carlos, since he hasn’t played in four months. Will he have the stamina to go all the way? If anyone can do it, it’s him.”

McEnroe points to American Ben Shelton as the man capable of ending the 23-year Grand Slam drought for U.S. men’s tennis: “He’s in the best position ever. He has one of the most powerful serves in tennis history. He has charisma. For me, this would be the ideal scenario. He has incredible talent.”

After his first victory over Safiullin, Alcaraz assessed his condition: “My wrist doesn’t hurt now, and I felt great throughout the match. I don’t know how it looked from the outside, but I felt like I was able to hit the ball normally,” the Spaniard said after the match. The defending champion, however, acknowledged the emotional challenge of his return: “Ever since this morning, I’ve been much more nervous than usual, and I kept asking myself if I’d really be able to get back to competing.” Regarding his goal for the tournament, Alcaraz was clear: “I don’t know what my path will be. What I want is to make the most of every moment on the court, rediscover the thrill of competition, and feel the support of the crowd.”