World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdraws from scheduled training after slipping during his fourth-round Wimbledon match, raising concerns ahead of his highly anticipated clash with American Ben Shelton.
Jannik Sinner, the current world number one in men’s tennis, has raised concerns about his fitness after canceling a key practice session on Tuesday amid fears of a right elbow injury sustained during his fourth-round match at Wimbledon 2024. The Italian is scheduled to face Ben Shelton of the USA in the quarter-final on Wednesday, but his physical condition has suddenly become a major talking point ahead of the match.
According to Sky Sports, the 23-year-old Jannik Sinner, slipped on the baseline during the first game of his Round of 16 clash against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. Despite the incident, Sinner continued to play and was leading 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 before Dimitrov retired from the match due to an apparent pectoral injury, allowing Sinner to advance to the final eight.
MRI Scan and Cancelled Practice Fuel Concerns
Following the match, Jannik Sinner revealed he would undergo an MRI scan on Tuesday to assess the severity of the injury. He later cancelled his 4 PM practice session at Wimbledon’s Aorangi Park, sparking further speculation about his availability for the quarter-finals.
“It was quite an unfortunate fall,” Jannik Sinner told reporters after the match.
“I checked the videos a little bit, and it didn’t seem a tough one, but I still felt it quite a lot, especially on serve and forehand. I could feel it. So let’s see. Tomorrow we are going to check to see how it is, and then we see.”
A Walkover That Didn’t Feel Like a Win
Although Jannik Sinner moved into the quarters, he expressed sympathy and concern for Grigor Dimitrov, acknowledging that the win didn’t feel fully earned given the Bulgarian’s injury-forced exit.
“I hope he has a speedy recovery. It’s very unlucky from his side. I don’t take this as a win at all. This is just a very unfortunate moment to witness for all of us,” Sinner said, quoted by ATP.
“In the last Grand Slams, he [Dimitrov] has struggled a lot with injuries, and seeing him now again with this kind of injury is very, very tough. We all saw his reaction—how much he cares about the sport. He’s one of the most hardworking players on tour.”
History and Stakes
Jannik Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion, reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2023, where he lost in straight sets to Novak Djokovic. This year, he entered the tournament as a favorite following a strong run in the ATP rankings.
The looming quarter-final against Ben Shelton is now clouded with uncertainty, and fans worldwide are waiting to see whether Sinner’s elbow will allow him to compete at full strength.