Jannik Sinner, bad news from Turin: America is drifting away
Five more, maybe six days in Turin. Jannik Sinner will continue his work at J Medical to complete his recovery and reduce the inflammation in his left knee, which has forced him to slow down his preparation for the American hard-court season. Today, the world No. 1 is expected back at the Turin facility for another shockwave therapy session, part of the physical therapy program prescribed in Milan and set to continue over the next few days.
This schedule inevitably casts doubt on his participation in the Cincinnati Masters 1000. The tournament in Ohio, according to the staff’s plans confirmed just a few days ago, was supposed to mark Sinner’s return to the court following his triumph at Wimbledon. There is still no official withdrawal, and a sliver of hope remains, but the indication from the treatment plan seems quite clear: it is unlikely that Jannik will leave J Medical to fly to Cincinnati without being certain he is ready to compete.
Withdrawing from the Masters 1000 could be primarily a strategic decision rather than a strictly medical necessity. Sinner would, in fact, have the opportunity to complete his recovery without rushing and, above all, to arrive in the United States in the best possible condition to compete in the U.S. Open. The priority remains the same: not to rush things. Caution, especially at this stage of the season, may be the wisest course of action. After his success at Wimbledon, Cincinnati had been identified as the ideal tournament to regain confidence on hard courts and quickly get back into match rhythm ahead of the US Open. Skipping the Ohio Masters 1000, however, would have a clear advantage: it would allow Sinner to gain precious days to complete his recovery without adding stress to his knee.
The issue does not appear to be related to structural damage, but rather to inflammation that nonetheless requires attention and adequate time to heal. For this reason, as things stand, the most likely scenario is that Sinner will travel to the United States without Cincinnati on his schedule and head directly to New York. At Flushing Meadows, he would thus have several days to get back into the rhythm of playing on hard courts, gradually regain his feel for the surface, and adapt to the environmental conditions, where heat and humidity can be an additional source of stress.
Of course, skipping Cincinnati would also come at a cost. Sinner would arrive at the US Open without having played a competitive match since Wimbledon and therefore with less match practice than initially anticipated. But at this point, the balance seems to be tipping toward caution. The next few days at J Medical will be decisive in determining when the world No. 1 can return to full training. In this scenario, Cincinnati may be sacrificed. The US Open, on the other hand, remains the goal that guides every decision. It’s better to spend a few more days in Turin—between physical therapy and specific training—than a few days less to complete his recovery. For Sinner, at this stage, the priority is to arrive in New York in the best possible condition.
