Jannik Sinner Has a Clear Plan for the End of the Season: A New Schedule Following His Withdrawal from the U.S. Open

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the U.S. Open took everyone by surprise and is still making headlines even 24 hours after the official announcement. With his Wimbledon triumph still fresh in fans’ minds, the world No. 1’s run comes to a halt just as Carlos Alcaraz returns to the court after a long hiatus due to a wrist injury. It’s an almost unbelievable coincidence: while the Spaniard returns to kickstart his season, the Italian is playing it safe and sitting out to protect his right knee.

The decision, officially communicated by his team, is not the result of an emergency but rather a clear strategy. Sinner hasn’t played since the Wimbledon final on July 12, which he won against Zverev, and over the next five weeks he’ll alternate between therapy and targeted strengthening exercises to bring the joint—which has been bothering him so much in recent weeks—back to peak condition. The goal is twofold: to avoid setbacks and to be in top form for the long final stretch of the season, where there are significant points to defend and decisive opportunities.

The new plan calls for Sinner to remain in Europe to complete his recovery alongside the medical and athletic staff. The schedule has already been mapped out: Jannik wants to be ready for the tournaments in Beijing (starting September 30) and Shanghai (starting October 7). It was in China, exactly twelve months ago, that the Italian won the title in Beijing and was eliminated in Shanghai in a match against Griekspoor—an episode that now provides an additional source of motivation.

The Asian tour will be just the beginning of a very busy end to the season. After China, Sinner is expected to compete in the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Riyadh, then participate in the year’s final Masters 1000 event in Paris-Bercy, before wrapping up the season at the ATP Finals in Turin, where he will aim to reaffirm his position at the very top of international tennis for the third consecutive year. This schedule demands impeccable physical condition and justifies his decision to skip the U.S. Open so as not to jeopardize the rest of the season.