“He might need surgery”—the announcement about Jannik Sinner sends shockwaves through the fan base

Jannik Sinner’s fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to see the Italian in action after his long absence due to a knee injury. The South Tyrolean will fly to Shanghai in the coming days, where the Masters 1000 tournament begins on October 7, to assess his physical condition and determine his next steps.

If the champion still experiences pain, Professor Stefano Zaffagnini says surgery may be necessary. The director of Orthopedic Clinic 2 at the Rizzoli Institute in Bologna, who has operated on several athletes in the past, stated in an interview with *Il Resto del Carlino*: “He may have patellar tendinopathy, a condition that can cause significant pain for a top-level athlete.”

“If it doesn’t go away, surgery may be considered. It involves making small incisions in the tendon to stimulate blood flow and thus promote healing. It’s not a particularly complicated procedure. It takes just ten minutes and involves an incision of only four centimeters, but it requires a break of at least 3–4 months.”

“In that case, Sinner would miss the end of the season,” announced Professor Zaffagnini. The coming weeks will likely be crucial in determining whether the knee can heal with therapy or not.”

Surgery isn’t the only option the South Tyrolean might choose: “He could also decide to manage the situation with injections. However, he’ll have to accept that he’ll need to pace himself and deal with ups and downs. Fortunately, he’s young and can afford to spend a few extra months of his career taking care of his body.”