Jannik Sinner said to have been injured during the US Open final, 'that was my suspicion'

Jannik Sinner couldn’t find his best tennis in the 2025 US Open final.

After Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final earlier in the summer, many were expecting a repeat result at Flushing Meadows.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Alcaraz got his revenge, defeating Sinner in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, to secure his sixth Grand Slam.

Something wasn’t clicking for Sinner on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the final, as he looked a step behind Alcaraz throughout the match.

Providing a potential reason for Sinner’s below-par performance, Nick Kyrgios’ former coach has suggested the Italian may have been injured.

Nick Kyrgios’ former coach Simon Rea had a ‘suspicion’ that Jannik Sinner was injured

During the latest episode of ‘The Tennis’ podcast, Kyrgios’ former coach, Simon Rea, responded when asked if Sinner was ‘carrying something’ [an injury] in the US Open final.

“It looked like that to me,” he said.

“I’m in awe of him at his best, but it just looked like he was missing a gear or a level, so that was my suspicion watching it play out in real time.

“I was wondering if it was the stomach; it looked like it was really impeding the serve.”

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Sinner’s serve fell apart in the final, and was made to look even worse by Alcaraz’s excellent performance on the other side of the net.

Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, Nicole Pratt, agreed, as she reflected on the injury time-out Sinner took in the semifinals.

“Well, in the semifinal, he had that injury timeout, and he’d just lost the set, I was thinking, this is interesting,” she said.

“Then managed to get through, but for me, there was a question mark going into the final. I wonder if he’s going to be at 100% fitness; there was something just off.”

Pratt proceeded to explain how an injury can affect a player’s mentality heading into a match.

“Sometimes players, when they carry something, it carries through in their mentality, I’m just not sure he was as laser-focused and dialed in as he normally is when he’s playing his best,” she said.

“For him to lose a set 6-1… something’s wrong.

“Sinner was making unusual errors, like a regular forehand he’s missed, not by much, but he’s missed. And he doesn’t normally do that.”

The Italian hadn’t lost a set 6-1 since the Italian Open in May [vs Tommy Paul], his first tournament back after a three-month suspension.

Looking to bounce back, Sinner will make his return to ATP Tour action in Beijing, China.

Who will Jannik Sinner compete against at the China Open?

Assuming he’s fit to participate, Sinner will compete at the China Open later this month, a tournament he won back in 2023.

Interestingly, he won’t be joined by his rival, Alcaraz, in Beijing, as the Spaniard chose to play the event in Tokyo instead.

Undoubtedly a favorite to reach the final, Sinner will be challenged by a number of top-ten players at the ATP 500 tournament.

Top eight seeds for the 2025 China Open

World number three Alexander Zverev may provide Sinner with his biggest challenge in Beijing, as he searches for a strong result after a disappointing showing at the US Open.

The likes of Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur could be dangerous too, although Sinner will still be confident of making a deep run.

In 2024, Sinner reached the final of the China Open, where he met Alcaraz for the tenth time.

After three sets of thrilling action, Sinner fell just short, losing to Alcaraz 7-6, 4-6, 6-7.

Only time will tell if Sinner can go one better in 2025, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

The 2025 China Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 22.

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