# Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill kept in the dark over knee injury and season withdrawal

- URL: https://apitofinal.pt/en/modalidades-en/tenis-en/jannik-sinners-coach-darren-cahill-kept-in-the-dark-over-knee-injury-and-season-withdrawal/
- Published: 2026-10-15T09:23:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-20T17:29:06+00:00
- Publisher: Apito Final (apitofinal.pt)
- Section: Ténis
- Tags: ATP Tour, Brad Gilbert, Darren Cahill, Jannik Sinner, tennis, Wimbledon

## Key points

- Jannik Sinner's knee injury forced him to abandon the rest of the 2026 season, aiming for a 2027 comeback.
- Coach Darren Cahill was reportedly left in the dark until the last moment about Sinner's withdrawal from Cincinnati, per Brad Gilbert.
- Gilbert said Sinner will prioritise rest and strengthening, with surgery seen as a highly unusual last-resort option.

## Article

Jannik Sinner’s knee injury has escalated into a major setback, forcing the World No.1 to abandon the remainder of the 2026 season and set his sights on a comeback in 2027. After an astonishing run that saw him dominate the ATP Tour with five consecutive Masters 1000 victories and successfully defend his Wimbledon title against Alexander Zverev, Sinner’s campaign came to an abrupt halt. The Italian star’s knee issues worsened quietly behind the scenes, leading to withdrawals from multiple key tournaments, including the North American hardcourt swing, the China Open, Shanghai Masters, and ultimately, the ATP Finals in Turin.

According to Brad Gilbert, insights have emerged revealing disarray within Sinner’s camp, particularly regarding the communication gaps affecting his coaching team. Darren Cahill, one of Sinner’s principal coaches, was reportedly left in the dark until the last moment about the player’s sudden withdrawal from Cincinnati. “I’ve been speaking to Darren a lot, and it started with he was on his way to the airport from Los Angeles, going to Cincinnati, when he got the call that they’re not going,” Gilbert explained on the Big T Podcast. “Basically, he’s been on hold since then. And I think it’s like one of these very frustrating things.”

Gilbert also raised concerns over Sinner’s approach to medical consultation and rehabilitation. He described a cycle where Sinner listens to doctors, takes brief breaks, resumes training, and then experiences recurring knee pain, highlighting the complexity of his recovery. “It’s like he listens to the doctors. He takes a few days off, goes back, and hits; some days he’s fine. And then he gets that pain in the kneecap. Now you hope it’s not too many cooks in the kitchen, like he has three different doctors. I think he went to France. He’s going to Italy,” Gilbert added. The suggestion now is that Sinner will prioritize rest and strengthening exercises for the foreseeable future.

The possibility of surgery looms as a last-resort option, with Gilbert emphasizing its evolving nature. “So no surgery. So can you imagine if we fast forward to December and early January, when he really ramps up to get ready for Australia, and this pain hasn’t gone away? Then all of a sudden, it could linger. Because normally with this long, you want to think, is surgery an option? Usually it’s the last option. But now surgery is not like it was 30 years ago, if it’s a scope. But highly unusual.”

Sinner’s prolonged absence has shifted the ATP Tour’s dynamic, notably allowing Alexander Zverev to reclaim the World No.1 ranking. This development opens the door for rivals to close the gap on a previously dominant Italian. The year has also been marred by injury woes for Carlos Alcaraz, who missed over four months with a wrist injury before returning at the US Open. Brad Gilbert praised the remarkable fitness and durability of past greats like Roger Federer, who managed to compete in 65 consecutive Grand Slam events, underscoring how challenging it is to maintain peak condition in today’s physically demanding environment. “Honestly, I don’t ever remember a year where the top two guys started and have been so dominant the last two and a half years and missed so much time during the year,” Gilbert noted. “Staying healthy is a unique challenge. It kind of makes you think about how many consecutive majors Federer played it? Wow.”

Sinner’s forced hiatus marks a dramatic turning point in the 2026 season, leaving fans and insiders alike to speculate on the extent of his recovery and the impact on the fiercely competitive ATP landscape.