World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has confirmed his 2026 tennis season is officially over, announcing on Tuesday that he will not play again this year while he undergoes treatment for a persistent knee injury. The 25-year-old Italian has not competed since lifting the Wimbledon trophy in July.
Sinner made the announcement in a video message posted on Instagram from Monaco, saying the decision was taken together with his doctors. He added that he needed to think about his long-term career and would do everything possible to get back to full fitness.
His management team said in a statement that Sinner would follow a course of treatment for inflammation in his knee, and that acting now would give him the necessary time to recover before preparations for 2027 begin.
A season that stalled after Wimbledon
Sinner's last competitive match came on July 12, when he beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final — his fifth Grand Slam title. The knee problem forced him out of the US Open, and he has now sat out the entire North American hard-court swing and the ongoing Asian tournaments, including this week's Shanghai Masters, which he had already confirmed he would skip.
His absence will be felt across the rest of the calendar. Sinner will miss the Paris Masters, the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin in November, and the Davis Cup Final 8, where Italy are hosts and three-time defending champions. The Italian has won the last two editions of the ATP Finals.
No. 1 spot at risk
Sinner's shutdown opens the door for a change at the top of the rankings. Zverev, who captured two of this year's four Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open, is closing the points gap and could finish the year as world No. 1.
Before the injury struck, Sinner had enjoyed one of the strongest stretches of his career, riding a 30-match winning streak that ended with a second-round defeat at the French Open. If he recovers in time, the Australian Open — starting January 17 — would be his likely return event and the first Grand Slam of 2027.
Sources: Jannik Sinner to miss rest of year due to knee inflammation (ESPN) | Jannik Sinner to miss the rest of the year due to knee inflammation (NBC Sports)
Sinner made the announcement in a video message posted on Instagram from Monaco, saying the decision was taken together with his doctors. He added that he needed to think about his long-term career and would do everything possible to get back to full fitness.
His management team said in a statement that Sinner would follow a course of treatment for inflammation in his knee, and that acting now would give him the necessary time to recover before preparations for 2027 begin.
A season that stalled after Wimbledon
Sinner's last competitive match came on July 12, when he beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final — his fifth Grand Slam title. The knee problem forced him out of the US Open, and he has now sat out the entire North American hard-court swing and the ongoing Asian tournaments, including this week's Shanghai Masters, which he had already confirmed he would skip.
His absence will be felt across the rest of the calendar. Sinner will miss the Paris Masters, the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin in November, and the Davis Cup Final 8, where Italy are hosts and three-time defending champions. The Italian has won the last two editions of the ATP Finals.
No. 1 spot at risk
Sinner's shutdown opens the door for a change at the top of the rankings. Zverev, who captured two of this year's four Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open, is closing the points gap and could finish the year as world No. 1.
Before the injury struck, Sinner had enjoyed one of the strongest stretches of his career, riding a 30-match winning streak that ended with a second-round defeat at the French Open. If he recovers in time, the Australian Open — starting January 17 — would be his likely return event and the first Grand Slam of 2027.
Sources: Jannik Sinner to miss rest of year due to knee inflammation (ESPN) | Jannik Sinner to miss the rest of the year due to knee inflammation (NBC Sports)
