Jannik Sinner Injury Update: What Happened to the World No.1?
Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis star who’s been on a fairytale run this season (and honestly, kind of feeling untouchable), shocked everyone by retiring from the Cincinnati Open 2025 final due to illness. It was supposed to be a mouthwatering rematch against Carlos Alcaraz—two young wizards, mid-summer heat, a packed Midwest stadium—but instead, it became a scene that felt more like heartbreak in slow motion than top-tier tennis.
Jannik Sinner looks upset after he was forced to retire
Why Did Jannik Sinner Retire?
Sinner retired midway through the first set of the Cincinnati final, trailing 0-5 against Alcaraz, and as the umpire announced his withdrawal "due to illness," the moment was unmistakably raw. No mystery injury, no dramatic on-court slip. Just a drained, emotional Sinner sitting on the bench, head in hands, as the crowd murmured in disbelief.
Here’s what happened—straight, no chaser:
Sinner started the match visibly out of sorts, making a spate of unforced errors and losing his service games in quick succession.
After the fifth game, he requested a medical timeout and was spotted with an ice pack on his head. Not a great sign, especially considering the blazing August sun in Cincinnati.
Moments later, he regretfully told the medical staff, “I tried, but I can’t,” and shook hands with Alcaraz—who immediately gave him a warm, consoling hug. You could almost hear a collective “oh, buddy…” from the tennis world
Jannik Sinner speaks after retiring in the Cincinnati final.
What Was Wrong With Jannik Sinner Today?
The short answer: Sinner wasn’t dealing with a specific injury; he was simply, intensely ill. He’d felt unwell since the night before, and by game time, things had gotten worse, not better. In his post-match remarks, Sinner was honest and heartfelt:
“I’m super sorry to disappoint you. From yesterday, I didn’t feel great. I thought I would improve during the night. It came up worse. I tried to come out and make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more. I’m really, really sorry,” he told the fans—most of whom were probably less upset about a short match than about seeing Sinner utterly crestfallen.
There’s a surreal kind of courage in pushing through when you’re sick. Sinner didn’t bail before the toss—he tried to gut it out, for the crowd, for himself, maybe even (dare I say) for the spectacle. The end result? He joins Novak Djokovic on a shortlist of top players who’ve had to retire in the Cincinnati final. Not the kind of club Sinner wanted to join, surely.
For context, Sinner began the match wearing a protective arm sleeve, but he was quick to clarify his withdrawal had nothing to do with a lingering injury and everything to do with illness. So, if you saw the hashtags spinning wild on social media, yes: it’s a bug, not a break.
