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Roger Federer’s former coach sends Jannik Sinner advice after he ended his season early due to injury

Jannik Sinner’s 2026 season concluded early after a persistent knee injury forced him to withdraw from multiple tournaments, including the US Open and the Asian swing. The Italian star, who had just secured his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon by defeating Alexander Zverev, announced he would miss the ATP Tour entirely through at least 2027 to prioritize recovery.

His abrupt exit from the season’s final events—Montreal, Cincinnati, Beijing, and Shanghai—left his path to the year-end No. 1 ranking wide open, with Zverev poised to become the first German man since Boris Becker in 1991 to top the ATP rankings.

Sinner’s decision follows a historic campaign where he became only the second player in history, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the Career Golden Masters by winning five consecutive Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. Though he fell short of defending his Australian Open title and was eliminated early at Roland Garros, his Wimbledon triumph marked a defining moment in a year that saw him just one French Open victory away from completing the Career Grand Slam.

Ivan Ljubičić, Roger Federer’s former coach, offered guidance to Sinner, drawing parallels to Federer’s own 2016 season-ending knee injury. Ljubičić emphasized the importance of a full recovery before returning, cautioning against resuming play with lingering discomfort.

He suggested Sinner’s strategic early shutdown could help him return in peak form for the Australian Open, ensuring a stronger comeback after a season cut short by injury.

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