Italian Tennis Sensation Sinner Withdraws from Rome Open Due to Hip Injury
Rome, Italy (AP) – In a major disappointment for Italian tennis fans, second-ranked Jannik Sinner announced on Saturday that he is withdrawing from the upcoming Italian Open due to a persistent hip injury. This news comes on the heels of fellow top player Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the tournament a day earlier, also due to injury.
Sinner, the 22-year-old rising star, had raised high hopes for the home crowd after winning the Australian Open in January, becoming the first Italian man to claim a Grand Slam singles title in nearly half a century since Adriano Panatta’s triumph at the 1976 French Open. Moreover, Sinner had recently led Italy to its first Davis Cup title since 1976.
“It’s not easy to write this message, but after having talked with doctors and specialists again about my hip problems, I have to announce that unfortunately I can’t play in Rome,” Sinner wrote on social media, expressing his disappointment at missing out on one of his “absolute favorite tournaments.”
Sinner, who had also withdrawn from the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open this week due to the same injury, had been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to compete in front of the passionate Italian fans. However, he has now shifted his focus to preparing for the upcoming French Open, the year’s second Grand Slam event, which is set to begin on May 26.
With Sinner and Alcaraz both sidelined, the upcoming Italian Open is set to lose some of its star power. However, tennis enthusiasts can still look forward to the return of world number one Novak Djokovic, as well as the legendary Rafael Nadal, who is expected to make his final appearance at the tournament as he approaches the twilight of his illustrious career.
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