A Warning From Inside Sinner's Former Camp
Jannik Sinner has not stepped onto a court since lifting the Wimbledon trophy in July, a victory that gave him his fifth Grand Slam title. The Italian confirmed earlier this month that his 2026 season is over due to a right knee problem, and Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italy has pointed to iliotibial band syndrome as the likely diagnosis. Now Marco Panichi, who served as Sinner's fitness coach from late 2024 into mid-2025 and has also worked with Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune, has weighed in on what that could mean.
Speaking to Gonzo Tennis, Panichi described the condition as a classic overuse injury tied to repetitive running on hard courts. He noted that the band becomes inflamed at the outer knee over time, especially when foot placement is imprecise under fatigue. Crucially, he warned that surgery offers far fewer guarantees for this type of injury compared to something like a torn ACL, meaning a slow, conservative recovery is typically the only path forward. His assessment was blunt: if iliotibial band syndrome is confirmed, it will keep Sinner away from competition for a meaningful stretch.
Workload Pressures Facing the Tour's Biggest Names
Panichi also used the moment to raise broader concerns about how top players manage their bodies. He pointed out that exhibition commitments add significant strain on top of already demanding tour schedules, and that the biggest stars find it increasingly hard to say no to these requests. Carlos Alcaraz has been cited elsewhere as a player who handles schedule management well, making him a reference point for how elite athletes can balance ambition with longevity. TennisDraw bracket enthusiasts tracking Sinner's potential return for the 2027 Australian Open will want to watch his recovery timeline very carefully over the coming weeks.
