Jannik Sinner is set to miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to an ongoing knee injury.
The Italian has enjoyed an illustrious few years at the top of tennis, but he has been sidelined since conquering Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July.
Sinner was denied the chance to reclaim the US Open earlier this month, and he will be unable to defend the points he claimed with title triumphs in China, Vienna, Paris and the ATP Finals at the end of 2025.
Zverev is currently 1,280 points behind Sinner in the live rankings, but the German is expected to surpass the 25-year-old as the world number one by the end of the calendar year.
Sinner took to Instagram to confirm that he will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 season.
He said: "Hello everyone, I would like to give you a little update.
"Me, together with the doctors, have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee, which means that the 2026 season is officially over.
"The last couple of years, especially the end ending in Turin, gave me so many beautiful feelings and emotions, which this year is going to be way different.
"But at the moment, I also need to think about my long-term career.
"I will do everything possible to get back 100%. I thank you already in advance for your support and hope to see you very, very soon on [the] court again."
Sinner was well placed to finish the calendar year as the world number one for the second time in three seasons after retaining his Major at the All England Club, and so his prolonged absence is a huge blow for the Italian.
Nonetheless, Sinner has still enjoyed a mightily impressive 2026. His Wimbledon triumph added to five straight Masters 1000 successes between March and July, becoming the only player in series history to achieve this feat.
He will now concentrate on making a return for the start of the 2027 campaign, with the Australian Open in January viewed as a realistic return date.
