Coach Darren Cahill Shares Update on Jannik Sinner’s Health as US Open Looms

Jannik Sinner will be bidding to become the first man since Roger Federer to defend the US Open title.

Coach Darren Cahill Shares Update on Jannik Sinner’s Health as US Open Looms

Jannik Sinner, Darren Cahill (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

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Jannik Sinner had to hand Carlos Alcaraz the walkover due to illness after trailing 0-5 in the final of the Cincinnati Masters. He failed to defend his title, but the Spaniard ended up winning his career’s first Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati.

At first, the details about the illness were not known. But Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill told ESPN that Sinner was dealing with the flu. The Aussie, however, expects Sinner to be alright before starting his bid for his US Open title defence.

I spoke with him briefly last night. He was a bit better. He’ll take today off as well, that’s the plan, and I hope he’ll be able to take the court tomorrow and start hitting some balls. We are confident that he will be OK.

Last year, Sinner went past home favorite Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the US Open final. Since that win, he made it to the finals of the next three Majors, winning the Australian Open by beating Alexander Zverev and losing the French Open after a tough five sets to Alcaraz. He then beat the five-time Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon final.

Because of the flu, the 24-year-old couldn’t participate in the US Open mixed doubles. At first, he had paired up with Emma Navarro, but the latter withdrew because of her participation at the Monterrey Open. The World No.1 then re-paired with former doubles No.1 Katerina Siniakova, who couldn’t participate in the tournament after Sinner’s withdrawal.

The US Open singles main draw is scheduled to start on August 24th. Sinner, apart from his career’s fifth Major, will also be chasing his third title of the season after his triumph in Melbourne and London.

Apart from these wins and the final at the Roland Garros and Cincinnati Masters, Sinner also played the final of the Italian Open, right after the end of his three-month doping ban. If Sinner wins at Flushing Meadows, he will become the first man since Roger Federer (2004-2008) to defend the US Open title.

Mats Wilander says who other than Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz can win the US Open

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will enter the US Open as the heavy favorites, given that they haven’t let any other player win a title in the last seven Grand Slam events. But if one ignores these two, who else can lift the US Open?

Ben Shelton Canadian Open 2025
Ben Shelton (image via National Bank Open)

For Mats Wilander, Ben Shelton is the dark horse. Shelton won his career’s first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open after a tough three sets against Karen Khachanov. Wilander also backed World No.3 Alexander Zverev to win his first Major.

Some of it is because of the results that he’s had lately, but most of it is just because of the way that he plays. He can actually, I think, take these two guys (Alcaraz and Sinner) out. If he has a great serving day, then I think he’s the dark horse. But I think we need to give credit to Alexander Zverev again. Is he ever going to win one? Possibly.

Mats Wilander told TNT Sports

Zverev is a three-time Grand Slam finalist, the last of which he played at the Australian Open this season. At the French Open, Djokovic ended his run in the quarterfinals, while at Wimbledon, he crashed out in the first round with a five-set defeat to Arthur Rinderknech. Zverev is a finalist at the US Open. He squandered a two-set lead and lost to Dominic Thiem in 2020.

Shelton is a semifinalist in his home Grand Slam event, reaching the stage in 2023 and losing the match to Novak Djokovic. Last year, his compatriot Frances Tiafoe ended his run in the third round.

Also read: Martina Navratilova Backs Iga Swiatek to Win the 2025 US Open Following Wimbledon Triumph