Overview
- World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament with a persistent right knee problem, removing the season's top seed from the draw and reshuffling expectations for the men's event.
- Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has made his comeback after a nearly five-month right wrist layoff and will begin his title defense against Roman Safiullin, but he arrives with limited competitive match practice.
- Alcaraz told reporters that coping with uncertainty produced 'intrusive thoughts' during recovery, and he says his priority was to be healthy enough to compete rather than rush back.
- Novak Djokovic, chasing a record 25th major at age 39, and top seed Alexander Zverev are among the established contenders who could benefit from the draw's disruption.
- American players such as Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are viewed as live threats with Sinner out and Alcaraz unproven after injury, offering a real chance to end the U.S. men’s singles title drought that dates to 2003.