US Open star suffers horrific ACL injury as breakthrough season cut short

Aleksandra Krunic has reportedly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the US Open, abruptly ending what had been an exceptionally strong 2026 campaign. The doubles world No. 5 reached the finals at both the Australian Open and French Open this year alongside partner Anna Danilina. However, Krunic suddenly sustained an injury during their second-round US Open clash and was unable to continue. Elsewhere at the US Open, one match saw a 10-year family feud boil over with a handshake snub. Krunic and Danilina, the No. 3 seeds, were up against Tatjana Maria and Zeynep Sonmez, cruising through the first set while dropping only a single game. But late in the second set, Krunic collapsed to the court, clutching her knee in agony. • US Open star quit tennis at 20 and became nun after 'throwing' Grand Slam final • Vanessa Trump hits Tiger Woods with deal-breaker in foul-mouthed ultimatum The Serbian star was positioned at the net as Danilina served at 4-5 in the set. Krunic leaped to attempt an overhead shot, but upon landing, she immediately crumpled and grasped her left knee. The world No. 5 subsequently withdrew at 6-1, 5-6, advancing Maria and Sonmez to the third round. According to SportKlub, it has now been revealed that Krunic ruptured the ACL in her left knee and also sustained meniscus damage. Krunic retired mid-match at the US Open -Credit:Sky Sports The injury means the 33-year-old faces approximately eight to nine months on the sidelines, devastating her 2026 season. She and Danilina had already secured their spot at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells following an outstanding season that included capturing the WTA 1000 title in Doha and reaching three additional finals, two of which were at Grand Slam tournaments. Sadly, this isn't Krunic's first ACL tear. She ruptured the ligament in her right knee at the close of 2022 and didn't return to competition until the middle of 2023. At that time, she remarked: "Bad news: Unfortunately, it's my ACL, total rupture... But I will come back stronger and wiser after this." The 33-year-old hasn't yet spoken publicly about her latest ACL setback, but she can rely on the knowledge gained from her rehabilitation four years earlier. Krunic's devastating injury also occurred less than four months following American player Hailey Baptiste's ACL tear and meniscus damage during a second-round singles clash with Wang Xiyu at Roland Garros. Baptiste had climbed to a career-best ranking of No. 25 globally just weeks prior to sustaining the injury in Paris. She has since had surgical intervention and is targeting a comeback next season. After advancing to the third round of the women's doubles competition via retirement, Maria and Sonmez were defeated by the American pairing of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery, 6-3 6-2.