Jannik Sinner faces injury uncertainty and potential surgery

World number one Jannik Sinner remains sidelined due to an injury diagnosed as iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome. The condition involves inflammation of the tissue on the outside of the leg above the knee, rather than an issue within the knee joint itself.

Sinner has missed several major tournaments since his Wimbledon victory in July, including Cincinnati, the US Open, and most recently, Beijing. While he is currently undergoing physiotherapy and rest to manage the inflammation, medical experts suggest that surgery remains a possibility if conservative treatments fail to produce results.

His absence poses a risk to his ATP ranking. While he currently holds a significant lead with 11,000 points, Alexander Zverev is closing the gap. If Sinner is unable to compete in upcoming events like the Shanghai Masters in October, Zverev could potentially overtake him for the top spot.