Monaco, Oct 7:
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has ended his 2026 season early as he continues treatment for inflammation in his knee, ruling him out of the remaining tournaments of the year, including the ATP Finals in Turin.
The 25-year-old Italian has not played since defeating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final on July 12. He subsequently missed the North American hard-court swing, including the US Open, and the Asian tournament schedule because of the knee problem.
Sinner confirmed the decision in a video message, saying he and his doctors had decided that he needed a course of treatment and that his 2026 season was officially over. His management team said the treatment was aimed at addressing inflammation in his knee and giving him sufficient time to recover before beginning preparations for the 2027 season.
The decision means Sinner will miss the European indoor hard-court tournaments as well as the season-ending ATP Finals, where he has won the title for the past two years. He said his priority now was to think about his long-term career and return to full fitness.
Sinner’s absence could also have a major impact on the battle for the world No. 1 ranking. Germany’s Alexander Zverev, currently ranked second, has narrowed the gap after winning the French Open and US Open titles and will have further opportunities to collect points during the remainder of the season.
Sinner will now turn his attention to recovery and preparation for the 2027 season, with the Australian Open set to be one of the major targets of his comeback.