World number one Jannik Sinner will not play again in 2026. He announced the decision in a video on Instagram, saying he had agreed with doctors that he needed treatment for a knee injury and wanted to protect his long-term career. His season ends now, giving Alexander Zverev a chance to finish the year atop the world rankings.
“I also need to think about my long-term career so I will do everything possible to get back 100 per cent,” Sinner said. His team said the treatment will address inflammation in his knee. He won't return for the European indoor hardcourt swing or the ATP Finals in Turin.
The decision and treatment
Sinner's team said treatment would give him time to recover before preparations for 2027 begin. “The decision has been made to have the treatment now to give Jannik the necessary time to recover before beginning preparations for 2027,” the team said in a statement.
The treatment brings Sinner's 2026 season to an official end. He made the decision with his doctors, according to his video message. His team identified knee inflammation as the reason for treatment. Neither account gave another cause for his absence.
Sinner hasn't played since beating Zverev in the All England Club final on July 12. That was his most recent match before the knee injury kept him out of action. Now he will miss the remaining tournaments named in the report, including the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
Events Sinner will miss
Sinner has already missed the North American hardcourt swing, the US Open and tournaments in Asia. He'll also miss the European indoor hardcourt swing. The decision rules him out of the ATP Finals, where he won the title in the last two years.
Those events span several parts of the tennis calendar, but his team said recovery and preparation for 2027 come first. The announcement doesn't give a return date within that year. Sinner said he would do everything possible to get back fully fit.
Zverev's ranking opportunity
German world number two Zverev could finish the year at the top of the rankings while Sinner is absent. The report says Zverev has cut the gap to Sinner after winning the French Open and US Open titles. It doesn't say the ranking change is certain.
Sinner's withdrawal removes him from the remaining 2026 events listed in the report, including a tournament in Turin where he has held the title. Zverev's pursuit of the top ranking is the stated competitive consequence of Sinner's absence. The outcome will depend on the rankings as the season concludes.