Sinner Shuts Down His Season, Returns in 2027

Jannik Sinner closed out his 2026 season with a video posted on social media on October 6: "The season is officially over, my team and I have decided my knee needs further treatment." The extra-articular tendon inflammation in his right knee hasn't resolved, the treatment is conservative but incompatible with full training loads, and the world No. 1 will return to action in early 2027.

He hasn't played a match since July 12, when he defended his Wimbledon title by beating Alexander Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. Since then he has skipped Montreal, Cincinnati, the US Open and Beijing. Now the list grows to include Shanghai, Vienna and Paris-Bercy, where he was the defending champion, the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, and the ATP Finals in Turin, the tournament he had won the last two years.

The layoff also rules out the Davis Cup. Italy opens the Final 8 quarterfinals in Bologna on November 25 against South Korea, and Filippo Volandri will have to submit his squad by the end of October without his key player.

His hold on the top ranking spot stands at least until November 1, the day of the Vienna final. In the Race, the ranking that counts only 2026 results, Zverev is already ahead with 8,650 points to Sinner's 7,950.

Three months of rest weren't enough, and skipping Turin says it better than any statement could. In front of his home crowd, with a title to defend, Sinner would have played if his knee had allowed it. "The last two years, especially the finale in Turin, gave me so many beautiful feelings and emotions, and this year will go very differently," he said in the video. He closes out 2026 with 44 wins, Wimbledon, and five Masters 1000 titles.