Sinner claimed the second Grand Slam title of his career when he won the US Open in 2024 and reached the New York final again last year when he was beaten by Alcaraz.
Sinner and Alcaraz produced a clean sweep of the Grand Slam titles in 2024 and 2025, winning four majors apiece in a duopoly which has morphed into a generational duel.
However, the pair’s rivalry has been unable to reach the same heights and intensity.
Sinner’s withdrawal means the pair have not both been present at the past three Grand Slams, with Alcaraz’s wrist problem forcing him out of the French Open and Wimbledon.
At the season-opening Australian Open, Sinner’s shock loss to an inspired Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals stopped a fourth Grand Slam final in a row between him and the 23-year-old Alcaraz.
Three of last year’s four major finals were contested by Sinner and Alcaraz, as well as the end-of-season ATP Finals, which served to underline how far clear they were of their rivals in the men’s game.
This year, the pair have gone head-to-head only once.
Sinner beat Alcaraz in April’s Monte Carlo final which ensured the Italian reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings – a place which he has not looked like relinquishing since.
In his absence, Germany’s Zverev will be the top seed at Flushing Meadows, ahead of Alcaraz and Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The US Open singles main draws start on Sunday 30 August.