Jannik Sinner can’t seem to catch a break. After being sidelined by an illness that forced him to miss the Paris Olympics, the Italian dynamo now faces yet another challenge. Just when it looked like he was ready to bounce back, Sinner finds himself grappling with a new obstacle—a nagging injury that’s threatening to derail his comeback.

Playing against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinal of the Canadian Open, Sinner was seen in serious trouble. He was seen struggling in the first set of the match as he bent twice to touch his leg and was visibly in discomfort. Certain visuals also depicted him limping on the court as he attempted to make a dominant return. But eventually, he lost the set 6-3. Soon after the set, the match took a pause due to rain, which might have given some rest to the Italian star ahead of the next set and would have given him to introspect about his condition as well.

This was aptly witnessed in the second set, which he won handsomely 6-1. However, his challenges have not ceased to occur as he was again seen grabbing his leg during the changeover ahead of the third set of the match. This is not the first time when Sinner is facing a major scare during a crucial match.

Similar scenes emerged from the All England Club this year when Sinner was playing against Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinal of the Wimbledon. With the World No. 1 one down by two sets, he experienced trouble with his mobility. He headed to the sidelines and called for his physio, David Pires. The two were soon joined by the SW19 doctor, who checked his heart rate. The star player later walked out of the court after feeling unwell. While he made a return, it was difficult for him to cruise through Medvedev, who eventually defeated him in the match.

Coming back to his latest struggles, Sinner would not be ready to take yet another toll on his health just before the US Open. Remember, the Italian sensation missed the Paris Olympics after he suffered from tonsillitis and high fever, which came as a major setback for his fans. While an official statement about Sinner’s health is yet to be released, the reigning Australian Open winner has never shied from shutting out his critics who doubt his resilience.

When Sinner angrily responded to critics who accused him of faking his illness

The 22-year-old was poised to take over his opponents at the Paris Olympics. But his dream was marred by the illness he faced right ahead of the tournament, which left him in agony. As Sinner pulled out of the tournament, several critics took a dig at him, accusing him of faking his illness and not depicting patriotic gestures. Sinner responded to these criticisms directly. 

The editor-in-chief of Ubi Tennis, Giovanni Pelazzo, reported Sinner to let his true emotions out over the accusations. When quizzed about the remarks that accused him of not making ‘extra effort to go to Paris,’ Sinner responded vehemently. “It’s a question I don’t even want to have to answer honestly. I think only my team and I really know how I felt: from the outside, it’s one thing, from the inside it’s another. I especially know how I felt.”

The Italian player also highlighted that it was even difficult for him to “get out of bed,” and slammed the questions that were raised against him. “It broke my heart not to be able to go to Paris, the Games were one of my main goals of the season.”

With another injury scare in the picture, Sinner will need to exercise caution as he marches towards yet another Grand Slam tournament. Can Sinner overcome the barriers? Only time will tell.