ROME — World No.1 Jannik Sinner will not play again in 2026 after ending his season early due to a knee injury, ruling him out of two of the biggest events on the Italian sporting calendar. The 25-year-old announced the decision earlier on Tuesday and has not played since defeating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final 86 days ago, with an extended recovery now required before he can return to action. He will miss both the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna.
Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi released a statement after the announcement, stressing that the player's health must come first. “Protecting Jannik’s physical well-being takes precedence over any result or competitive commitment. It is an absolute priority that must guide every decision. At this moment, the most important thing is that we await him with open arms, with the same respect and affection as always, and with the certainty that he will return to the court when he is in the best condition to do so. The Federation will stand by his side, as always,” said Binaghi.
Sinner is a two-time defending ATP Finals champion but will not return to defend his crown in 2026. His withdrawal leaves Flavio Cobolli as Italy’s best hope for a home winner in Turin, with Cobolli sitting fifth in the Live ATP Race to Turin — fourth once Sinner’s withdrawal is applied — but still with work to do to secure his place at the year-end championships. Cobolli will also be relied upon at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, having stepped up when Sinner skipped the event last year to help Italy win their third consecutive title.
The layoff will be extensive. If Sinner plays his first match of 2027 at the Australian Open, he will not have played an official match in over 180 days. The Italian is a two-time Australian Open champion and one of the finest hard-court players in the game, but questions remain over whether he would still be favourite after such a long absence. The 2027 Australian Open begins on 17 January.
History suggests a difficult return. Sinner’s great rival Carlos Alcaraz also spent several months on the sidelines this year — 139 days — before returning at the US Open, where he produced strong tennis but fell short in the quarter-finals, losing to Ben Shelton in five sets. Had he been fully match fit and sharp, the outcome might have been different, and the same challenge now awaits Sinner in January.