Federer’s former coach issues a warning to Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner has ended his 2026 season early to focus on his knee recovery and return at his best at the start of next year. The Italian, who will soon lose his world No. 1 ranking, is undergoing a series of treatments to resolve the issue once and for all.

Roger Federer’s former coach, Ivan Ljubicic, offered some advice to the 25-year-old champion in an interview with Sky: “Injuries are always difficult to manage, especially when they last longer than expected. In Jannik’s case, I think what was initially supposed to be a short period of rest has turned into a more complicated situation than anticipated.”

In 2026, Federer decided to end his season right after Wimbledon: “It’s different when you know from the start that you’ll be out of action for six months. I hope Jannik can get through this period as best as possible. When Roger decided to retire in July 2016, we already knew his season was over.”

According to Ljubicic, the situation is completely different for Jannik: “The problem for him is something else. The most important thing is that he no longer feels any discomfort upon his return. For a player, in fact, there’s nothing worse than returning to the court and still feeling pain. Taking a break from competitive play well in advance of the start of the next season—with at least three months still to go before it begins—could help him recover fully and arrive in Australia in top form.”