World number one Jannik Sinner has announced he will not compete again in 2026 due to an ongoing right knee injury. The Italian player has been inactive since defending his Wimbledon title in July. Sinner, a five-time Grand Slam champion, stated in an Instagram video that he needed to prioritize his long-term health.
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"Me together with the doctors have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee," said the 25-year-old. He reflected on the positive experiences of the last few years, noting that this season would be quite different. "I will do everything possible to get back 100%."
Sinner was highly successful in the first half of the year, winning 44 matches and losing only three. He achieved an impressive five consecutive Masters 1000 titles from March to May, becoming the youngest player to complete the 'career Golden Masters.'
Due to Sinner's injury, Alexander Zverev is expected to take over as world number one by the end of the year. Zverev, currently ranked second and a winner of both the French Open and US Open this year, trails Sinner by 1,280 points in the live rankings. However, Sinner's early exit means he will not defend his points from previous titles in China, Vienna, Paris, and the ATP Finals.
In 2026, Sinner won six titles across all surfaces and lost only one singles match from March to July. He reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, where he lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic, and experienced a stunning second-round exit at the French Open after being defeated by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, which ended his 30-match winning streak.
He recovered impressively at Wimbledon, where, despite facing challenges including a five-set first round and bleeding through his shoes, he managed to beat Zverev in the final. Sinner and his rival Alcaraz, who faced each other in three Grand Slam finals last year, played only once in 2026, with Sinner winning the Monte Carlo Masters final, thus reclaiming the top ranking.
He concludes the year with a 10-1 record against top-10 players, his only loss occurring against Djokovic in Melbourne at the beginning of the year.