Jannik Sinner Ends 2026 Season Due to Knee Injury

World number one Jannik Sinner will miss the remainder of the 2026 tennis season due to an ongoing right knee injury.

Sinner Seeks Knee Treatment for Long-Term Career

The 25-year-old Italian has not competed since defending his Wimbledon title on July 12. Sinner announced via an Instagram video that he and his medical team decided a formal course of treatment is necessary for inflammation in his right knee. “I also need to think about my long-term career so I will do everything possible to get back 100 per cent,” Sinner stated in his video message.

Sinner’s management team confirmed that the timing of the procedure aims to grant the player sufficient recovery and preparation time ahead of the 2027 season. The injury forced Sinner to miss the North American hardcourt swing, the US Open, and current tournaments across Asia, as well as upcoming appearances at the Shanghai Masters, Paris Masters, ATP Finals in Turin, and the Davis Cup Final 8 with host nation Italy.

Zverev May Claim World Number One Ranking

Sinner’s absence opens the door for Alexander Zverev to claim the year-end world number one ranking. Zverev currently trails Sinner by 1,280 points in the live rankings, having secured both the French Open and US Open titles this season. Because Sinner won the China, Vienna, Paris, and ATP Finals titles at the end of last year, he cannot defend those points during his recovery.

Before the injury shutdown, Sinner maintained a dominant 44-3 record in singles matches this year. He captured five consecutive Masters 1000 titles between March and May, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Golden Masters. His campaign included a 30-match winning streak that ended with a second-round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the French Open during a heatwave. He later recovered at Wimbledon, battling through a five-set first-round match where he bled through his shoes before defeating Zverev in the final.

Sinner Targets Return for the Australian Open

With Carlos Alcaraz having missed four and a half months this year due to a right wrist injury, the top tier of men’s tennis saw significant disruption. Sinner finished his shortened year with a 10-1 record against top-10 players, with his sole defeat coming against Novak Djokovic in a five-set Australian Open semi-final. Sinner’s projected return places his potential comeback at the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.

Me, together with the doctors, have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee, which means that the 2026 season is officially over, Sinner said.