Jannik Sinner: The doctor takes stock of the situation
Jannik Sinner is still dealing with his knee injury and is undergoing rehabilitation with the support of his medical team and the doctors at J Medical in Turin. Speaking to Adnkronos Salute, physiatrist Andrea Bernetti—full professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UniSalento and secretary general of the Italian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation—provided an update on the situation.
“Tendinopathy is not simply an inflammatory condition, but a process of alteration and degeneration of tendon fibers caused in particular by continuous mechanical overload, which can affect various tendon structures in our body—such as, in Sinner’s case, one of the tendons in the knee. Tendinopathies of the rotator cuff, the Achilles tendon, and the elbow are also extremely common.”
“Every tissue has a specific window of biomechanical tolerance,” the doctor continued. As long as mechanical stresses remain within this threshold, a balance is maintained; when loads repeatedly exceed this safe threshold—which naturally varies from person to person—tendon degeneration is triggered, leading to painful symptoms and functional impairment. For athletes, managing these issues is even more critical, both because a return to peak performance is essential and because it is equally important to prevent conditions from becoming chronic or, worse, to avoid more serious problems that could limit their careers.”
Jannik Sinner’s absence from the U.S. Open completely upends all predictions for the season’s final Grand Slam: John McEnroe is certain of this. In an interview with USA Today, he discussed the withdrawal of Italy’s world No. 1 and the return of Carlos Alcaraz: “Jannik’s withdrawal is truly a shame, but it does ramp up interest in the rest of the men’s draw. Alcaraz’s return after a four-and-a-half-month hiatus is electrifying, but it’s a real disappointment that now that he’s back, Jannik Sinner has gotten injured.”
“However, this potentially opens the door for 10 other players, since we have to be a little concerned about Carlos, given that he hasn’t played in four months. Will he have the stamina to go all the way? If anyone can do it, it’s him,” McEnroe declared.
