Former British No.1 Makes Vulnerable Comment on Jannik Sinner: ‘He’s Been Beatable This Year’

Jannik Sinner’s path to the upcoming US Open has hit a significant snag, with the world No. 1 forced to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open due to a persistent right knee injury. This latest setback has stripped the Italian of his traditional hard-court lead-up, leaving his preparation for the final Grand Slam of the year in total disarray.

The situation has drawn a sharp and somewhat pessimistic assessment from former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski. Speaking on his podcast, Off Court With Greg Rusedski, the former US Open finalist didn’t mince words regarding the severity of the situation. Rusedski explicitly stated that the injury appears “concerning” and hinted that the physical issue might be more deep-seated than the team has publicly acknowledged.

He [Sinner] has been beatable this year outside of the Masters series. Losing in Australia to Novak when he was by far the better player… and then in Paris, that whole cramping thing.

The timing of this injury is particularly damaging for a player who thrives on routine and match fitness. By missing both the Canadian Open and now Cincinnati, Sinner faces the daunting task of arriving in New York without any competitive miles on the North American hard courts.

Beyond the immediate medical questions, Rusedski offered a candid take on Sinner’s vulnerability this season. While the Italian recently clinched his second Wimbledon title, Rusedski suggests that outside the Masters 1000 events, the aura of invincibility has been fading.

A clinic visit that raised eyebrows

The concern surrounding Jannik Sinner isn’t just about this week’s withdrawal. It stems from a cumulative series of medical checks that have kept his camp on edge throughout the summer. Reports surfaced recently that Sinner spent four hours at the Physioclinic in Milan, accompanied by four members of his team, for intensive evaluations.

This followed an earlier visit to J Medical in Turin, where the world No. 1 was spotted wearing a protective plaster on his knee. While his team previously dismissed the J Medical visit as a “precautionary” routine check-up, the subsequent withdrawal from Cincinnati has fueled speculation that the knee was never fully right.

The fact that the injury has persisted despite specialized treatment, reportedly including shockwave therapy, suggests a lingering issue that could significantly limit his movement on the unforgiving hard courts of Flushing Meadows. The implications of Sinner’s absence, combined with his physical doubts, are reverberating through the entire ATP locker room.

Sinner’s physical problems have been evident since the start of the season, when he cramped at the Australian Open. However, they really came to the surface during his Roland Garros capitulation in June.

What’s next for Jannik Sinner?

All eyes are now turned toward New York. The countdown to the US Open is rapidly accelerating, and for Jannik Sinner, the next few days are critical.

He must prove not just that he can travel to the site, but that he can survive the best-of-five-set format that defines Grand Slam tennis. If he is unable to train at full intensity in the coming week, his campaign will be defined by uncertainty from the very first ball struck in Queens.

For a player who has reached the pinnacle of the sport, the pressure to defend his position while managing his body has never been higher. Sinner has unfinished business at the US Open, having relinquished his US Open title last year to Carlos Alcaraz.

Being unable to go to New York would mean that his chances to clinch the Year-End World No.1 ranking could take a hit. However, this depends on Alexander Zverev and whether he can maintain the same consistency he showed at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

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