The knee injury which has kept Jannik Sinner off court since winning Wimbledon may require surgery which could likely mean the world No. 1 would miss the Australian Open.  

Rome’s Corriere dello Sport broke the troubling news on Monday, noting that the right knee inflammation which has troubled the five-time Grand Slam champion over the past months might be more serious than first thought.

Sources told the daily that the problem was an acute case of extra-articular tendon inflammation, or iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).

“There would be a risk, however, of having to resort to surgery if conservative therapies did not work” the newspaper reported, adding that rehab, physical rehab and injections have also not been completely ruled out.

 The newspaper reported added: “The iliotibial band is a strip of fibrous tissue that is thick, strong and not very elastic. 

“It originates in the pelvis, runs down the entire outer side of the thigh and attaches to the tibia, just below the knee. It acts like a steel cable, helping to stabilise the leg.

“The problem occurs just above the knee. There, the band passes over a bony prominence of the femur, the lateral epicondyle.

Every time the knee bends and straightens, the band slides over it until the tissue between the fascia and the bone becomes inflamed.

“That’s why we describe it as ‘extra-articular’: the problem is not inside the knee. It is outside, on the outer side.”

The injury situation is similar to that just suffered by former No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who missed nearly five months of competition due to a spring wrist injury which kept him out until the US Open.

The Spaniad has since complained mightily about the physical stress the crowded ATP calendar puts on top players, especially with the oddball nearly-two-week masters 1000 events which have drawn heavy criticism from all quarters of the sport as nothing more than an organiser cash grab..

Sinner is already set to miss the Asian swing which begins this week in Beijing and is followed by the Shanghai Masters. The 25-year-old Italian is also likely in danger for the Paris Nanterre Indoors and possibly the year-end finals in Turin in November..

His top ranking is now under this season’s two-time Grand Slam winner Alexander Zverev, who is closing fast on Sinner in the ranking points race.

Main photo:- Wimbledon 2026 Men’s singles final Jannik Sinner with Winners Trophy – Roger Parker International Sports Fotos

Jannik Sinner on Friday announced another injury setback, with the world No. 1 withdrawing from the September start of the China Open in Beijing.

The Italian who has not played since defending his Wimbledon title in July, has been on the injury list ever since, missing the Masters events in Canada and Cincinnati and skipping the US Open. 

Sinner won the Beijing event a year ago and could  now be in doubt for the Shanghai Masters next month.

“Hello everyone, Jannik here,” Sinner posted on social media.

“I want to send the warmest greetings to the Chinese fans. I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year.

“My knee is not there, where I would like [it] to be, and I am not ready to compete yet. But I will do everything possible to be there on court as soon as I can.

“What I miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans, and the atmosphere. I’ve had a great, great time in the past, winning the title also last year, and I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year. 

“So I wish everyone a very good tournament and I’ll see you all very soon on court again.”

This season has been a roller coaster for the 24-year-old who won five Masters 1000 titles in a row in 2026: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.

Main Photo:- Jannik Sinner won Beijing trophy in 2023. – by ISF Ltd

The inadvertent OG of tennis influencers – John McEnroe – has not time for the current wave of social media types who were granted media credentials at the US Open to try and boost the sport among the Gen Z audience.

Mac, who sparked plenty of controversy during his career in the 1980s and 1990s, has spoken out on a podcast about his aversion to the concept of trying to spark tennis interest among an audience that barely knows of its existence.

 “It’s pretty obvious what my view is on social media from the fact that I’m not on it at all. People keep telling me you have to be on there to have a presence, to make sure people still care about you.”

Some of the more than 100 tennis novice influencers given media badges at the Open created minor disturbances at the Grand Slam, by filming with bright ring lights during the middle of matches, among other breeches of the sport’s etiquette.

“As for these people being at tennis matches and disturbing the players. I see why the US Open might have wanted to bring new people in our sport,” McEnroe said.

“But it can’t be helpful if you are trying to play a big match and you look up and someone is filming themselves with a ring light and making a lot of noise doing it.”