Jannik Sinner pulls out of $1million US Open mixed doubles after almost collapsing on tennis court
Hours before the revamped, two-day event was due to start in New York, it was announced that the No.1 player in men's tennis had made the call to withdraw and will not take part in the action at Flushing Meadows.
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The reigning Wimbledon champion has failed to recover from the illness that blighted his participation in the final of the Cincinnati Open on Monday night.
Sinner, who turned 24 last Saturday, did not feel well after winning his semi-final against French qualifier Térence Atmane but had hoped he would recover in time before facing Carlos Alcaraz.
Yet he only lasted five completed games of the first set before telling a trainer and tournament official in Ohio: 'I cannot move – I feel like I can collapse.'
Sinner, who holds three of the four majors, apologised to fans as medics rushed over to treat him and he was heard saying: 'I tried, but I can't. I'm sorry for the fans.'
It is not thought to be serious enough to prevent him from defending his US Open crown with the singles tournament starting this Sunday.
Yet his absence is a huge blow to organisers behind the reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, which has a $1million prize for the winning team.
Sinner and Czech player Katerina Siniakova will not take part now – they had been due to face German Alexander Zverev and Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in the Last 16 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
They will be replaced in the draw by an alternate team with the highest combined singles ranking.
Those alternates had to sign-up by 10.30am on Tuesday, but priority is shown to those who had been entered before the initial July 28 deadline.
All eyes will be on how Alcaraz, 22, performs after a mad dash from Cincinnati to the Big Apple as he teams up with British No.1 Emma Raducanu.
The first and second rounds will be played on Tuesday while the semi-finals and final are scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Through the semifinals, matches will be best of three sets with short sets to four games.
There is no-ad scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.
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