Fabio Fognini Makes a Statement About Jannik Sinner After His Withdrawal

Former Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini took to his social media channels to reflect on Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the U.S. Open, following his withdrawals from the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournaments. His knee is holding back the world No. 1, who hasn’t played since his Wimbledon final victory over Alexander Zverev and has been undergoing tests at J Medical for weeks to monitor and resolve the issue.

“His knee said no, and he needs time. As we’ve read in his statements, he’s sad and disappointed because he dreamed of playing in the U.S. Open. Health comes first, though, and we wish Jannik a speedy recovery. He’ll be back on the court soon to win,” said Fognini, who then turned his attention to Carlos Alcaraz, who will be competing after recovering from a wrist injury.

“We’re all curious to see how he’s doing and if he’ll be able to play at his best. Our eyes will be glued to the TV.” Fognini did, however, admit to some regret over the missed showdown between the circuit’s two greatest players: “It’s a shame because we were expecting a showdown between the two titans of our sport.”

According to reports, the problem with his right knee appears to be inflammation without any structural damage, which may have flared up again in late July when the South Tyrolean resumed training after the break following his Wimbledon triumph. He has decided to take a complete break from tennis this week, with a tentative return to training set for around September 6. The goal remains to return to competition at the Beijing tournament, scheduled for September 30.

Adriano Panatta also spoke out strongly on the issue of injuries on the modern tennis circuit; speaking on “Domenica Sportiva,” he broadened his perspective beyond Sinner’s individual case: “We’re talking about too many injuries here. Aside from Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, we’ve had Rune, Berrettini, Musetti, and Fritz—all top-ten players who’ve suffered serious injuries. Something isn’t working; I think it’s the style of play that forces you to push yourself too hard.” Sinner’s former coach, Riccardo Piatti, echoed this sentiment, pointing the finger at the unsustainable pace of the tour: “These players can’t play all year round. Sinner and Alcaraz need to think about their future: if they want to have a very long career, they must be able to find a balance outside of tennis as well; otherwise, after two or three years, they’ll burn out.”