Jannik Sinner, the thrilling newcomer: “The risk of a relapse is the problem”

Through its director, Federico Ferri, Sky Sport has reconstructed what has happened in recent weeks to Jannik Sinner, who today announced he is taking a break from tennis until next year.

“At the end of the break he took after Wimbledon, he began to suffer from extra-articular tendinopathy on the outer side of his knee: this is ITBS, iliotibial band syndrome, an overuse injury that affects those who perform repetitive movements. It causes sharp pain on the outer part of the knee, which can come and go intermittently. In recent hours, following his withdrawal from Shanghai, Sinner has had several consultations, the last and most important of which took place in Lyon last Thursday with Professor Sonnery-Cottet, one of the leading experts in knee care. All consultations have reached the same conclusion: the only treatment is rest; surgery is not necessary, but the therapy required is incompatible with high-intensity training and, therefore, with playing on the court.”

“In recent days, Sinner and his staff have made a decision—one we can effectively consider official—to end the 2026 season here, without participating in any tournaments until the end of the season. The season is over, therefore; he will skip all tournaments, including the ATP Finals. Total rest, followed by a period of rehabilitation with the goal of returning to 100% in 2027.”

“The problem isn’t surgery: that’s not even an option. The problem is the possibility of a recurrence, the condition becoming chronic, or future calcification that would then require surgery. What we know today is that the intensity of training is not compatible with a situation that has not yet been resolved. Sinner’s strength is his rationality, which leads him to make decisions that concern not the immediate future but Jannik’s career—and this means making sacrifices that also involve suffering.”