Acute ‘Sinneritis’: withdrawal symptoms whilst awaiting Jannik’s return

To be honest, a media establishment that has been, quite rightly, sympathetic has slowly and gradually dampened our anxious anticipation of seeing Sinner back on court. By spreading out, over time, the announcements of his withdrawals – no fewer than five. This approach has softened (as may well have happened with the opposing fans – Alcaraz’s supporters – over a wrist issue) the despondency surrounding this knee saga. The announcements, initially framed as a precaution (with the decision to skip Montreal after Wimbledon to avoid back-to-back matches) and as treatment for inflammation caused by overuse (he would have been ill-advised to rush his return in Cincinnati on 9 August), called for more recovery time, leading to the cancellation of the US Open on 29 August, before announcing on 6 October – following a long silence (and withdrawals from Beijing and Shanghai) – that the 2026 season was officially over.

However, on closer reading of the latest announcement, Sinner clearly states that he must look after his long-term career. In a press release with a gentle, understated tone (“the programme envisages a gradual approach, without unnecessary rushes and with constant monitoring”), which nevertheless also triggers a sense of calm uncertainty: it describes, in fact, a future coloured by concrete expectations (his debut would take place in Brisbane on 3 January and his return at the Australian Open on 17 January), for events that are by no means guaranteed. This confirms that this ‘break without a break’ has a goal that is anything but insignificant: to protect nothing less than the rest of his career.

Certainly, all the ingredients are there for a sequel – a Rambo 2, or Kill Bill Volume 2: a Sinner 2, then. Starting with age and a competitive career that stretches over time – as Nadal, and even more so Djokovic, demonstrate – the ambitions and achievements of the world number ones. But if it is very clear, then, what lies ahead for him: starting afresh with patience, daily work, hard graft, courage, discipline and solitude, to overcome, above all, fear. What lies in store for us is far less clear. While he prepares to start afresh without a racket, ‘among his mountains’, the entire second tier of our tennis players has been swept aside in Shanghai: Berrettini and Cobolli straight away, followed by Musetti, Arnaldi and Darderi. So what, then, will become of us? What of us who, in recent years, have set our clocks back, sacrificing nights and early mornings to follow Jannick’s exploits in Australia or the US? Perhaps messaging friends on WhatsApp to ask, timidly, whether they were watching, sharing with us the enthusiasm and pride as he steadily ground down opponents and racked up points during those Italian nights. But that’s not all: what about those of us who, when invited to dinner, entrust a friend with the task of monitoring the match? Bruno and I often exchange such favours, and as he is not as boorish as I am – I am the sort who plonks a mobile on the tablecloth (and even watches Genoa: that is what it means to be at the end of one’s tether) – I send him the live scores.

During Sinner’s match against Shintarō Mochizuki on 5 July, for instance, I text him: “6-3; 5-4 Sinner”. He, in my view, from under the table (just as we all used to do at school, under the desk), cannot resist asking: “How’s he playing?”. I update him with: “5-5, so-and-so. Imprecise.” He then replies, forced to be brief: “Ouch.” But I immediately reassure him: “6-5, two aces, great game.” He really can’t resist then (they’ll certainly find out, I reckon): “I’m jumping in the car now to go and watch the final.”

In short, after these two glorious years, we’re no longer prepared to return to the long limbo that Italian tennis experienced after the Chilean Davis Cup. Bruno writes to me again: “Check out the evergreen Djokovic vs Medvedev.” And I reply: “I’m a bit of a patriot and feeling down about tennis.” His reply arrives: “Acute Sinneritis – me too.” The period separating us from Melbourne – the new chapter in Sinner’s career – will put us to the test. Without Elena Pero’s commentary, Jannick’s fresh start will inevitably be different, especially if it is true that, in his absence, there are already people reselling their tickets for the Turin finals.