A special message for Jannik Sinner during his darkest hour

Jannik Sinner is undergoing rehabilitation following a knee injury that will keep him off the courts until 2027. The Italian player announced his hiatus in recent weeks with a message on social media: “In consultation with the doctors, we’ve decided that my knee requires a course of specific treatments. This means that my 2026 season officially ends here.”

It was certainly a difficult decision, but one that allows the champion from San Candido to avoid further complications. Countless fans have sent him messages of encouragement, as have many of his colleagues and several well-known figures. A message also arrived from someone special: his first coach.

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Andreas Schönegger revealed that he had sent a letter to Sinner—a gesture that surely meant a great deal to the Italian player: “It’s hard to say how I felt when I saw the video of the announcement,” said the coach. “but I think health must always come first.”

“He and his team took this step to avoid serious long-term consequences. From the tone of his voice, he didn’t seem stressed to me, even though I’m sure he would have preferred to play in the tournaments. As a child, he never had any injuries. I think the doctors treating Jannik want to prevent this from becoming a chronic problem, which is why they strongly advised him not to play,” Schönegger concluded.

In recent days, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick and American journalist Jon Wertheim have discussed the possible reasons behind the Italian champion’s early withdrawal. According to the two, Sinner, like Carlos Alcaraz, may be feeling the effects of accumulated fatigue over the past few years and the physical stress associated with a particularly demanding schedule.

“My guess is that he’s using the break he took for his knee to address other issues as well,” Roddick explained, clarifying that this is his own interpretation and not based on any medical information he possesses.