24 Aug 2026

US Open 2026: João Fonseca withdraws from the tournament due to injury

The top Brazilian tennis player today, João Fonseca is out of the 2026 US Open. The 20-year-old, currently ranked number 26 in the ATP world rankings, was unable to recover in time from discomfort in his abdominal region and has announced his withdrawal from the last Grand Slam of the season.

The decision was confirmed by the athlete himself after undergoing further exams and a medical evaluation in Brazil.

The physical issue arose last week, during the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. In his debut on the North American hard courts, the Rio native defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 2 sets to 0.

However, during a practice session on the eve of his match against Australian Christopher O’Connell, scheduled for the third round, Fonseca felt severe pain on the left side of his abdomen. Given the situation, he announced his withdrawal from the tournament and brought forward his return to Brazil to begin physical therapy treatment.

*Screenshot from João Fonseca’s official Instagram captured on 08/24/2026*

“After undergoing exams and starting treatment on my abdomen, it became clear to me and my team that I need more time to recover 100% and be able to compete at a high level. So, unfortunately, I won’t be able to play the US Open. It wasn’t an easy decision, as it’s a very special tournament for me. We will keep working to come back as soon as possible. I am immensely grateful for the messages of support and also for the birthday wishes, thank you very much,” the athlete posted on social media.

End of Grand Slam Streak

The absence in New York brings to an end an important streak for the Brazilian. Since his definitive transition to professional tennis, João Fonseca had maintained an uninterrupted sequence of seven appearances in Grand Slams between the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

According to Sofascore data, the Rio native racked up good results in the period, with highlights including his 2026 Roland Garros campaign, when he reached the quarterfinals.

Next steps and ranking

Fonseca is expected to drop slightly in the ATP rankings update at the end of the US Open tournament.

The focus of the Rio native’s staff is now entirely on his muscle rehabilitation process before deciding on a return date to tournaments.

When does the US Open start?

The main singles draw of the 2026 US Open starts on August 30 (with qualifying rounds taking place between August 24 and 27) at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, and ends on the weekend of September 12 and 13.

Names like Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek will be at the tournament. And on Sofascore you can follow all the action at the 2026 US Open with real-time results, detailed match statistics, rankings, head-to-head records, and the key numbers from the biggest names in tennis.

The latest stories

Italy, Nearly 70 Pre-Selections for Mancini: Squad List Announced Tomorrow, Spotlight on a New Generation

17 Sept 2026

24 Aug 2026

US Open 2026: João Fonseca withdraws from the tournament due to injury

The decision was confirmed by the athlete himself after undergoing further exams and a medical evaluation in Brazil.

The physical issue arose last week, during the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. In his debut on the North American hard courts, the Rio native defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 2 sets to 0.

“After undergoing exams and starting treatment on my abdomen, it became clear to me and my team that I need more time to recover 100% and be able to compete at a high level. So, unfortunately, I won’t be able to play the US Open. It wasn’t an easy decision, as it’s a very special tournament for me. We will keep working to come back as soon as possible. I am immensely grateful for the messages of support and also for the birthday wishes, thank you very much,” the athlete posted on social media.