Brad Gilbert says knee surgery could become an option for Sinner if pain persists
Gilbert, a longtime friend of Sinner's coach Darren Cahill, said Cahill learned of the Cincinnati withdrawal only at the last minute, while Sinner's knee recovery remains unclear.
Cahill learned of the withdrawal at the last minute
Brad Gilbert, a former world No. 4 who coached Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick and has been a close friend of Darren Cahill for years, described the episode on the BigT podcast hosted by Andrea Petkovic. According to Gilbert, Cahill was on his way to Los Angeles airport to fly to Cincinnati, where he was due to meet Jannik Sinner, when a phone call told him Sinner would not play the August tournament. Cahill has been waiting for news since then, and Gilbert called the situation very frustrating. Gilbert also said Cahill is not fully informed about how Sinner's knee problem is developing.
Sinner's knee and the medical route
Sinner has not played since the Wimbledon final, which he won against Alexander Zverev on 12 July. He ended his 2026 season early to treat the knee, and ANSA reports that he has consulted several specialists, including the orthopaedic doctor Herbert Schoenhuber, known for treating skiers. Gilbert said Sinner is following medical advice aimed at avoiding surgery, which has meant a few days of rest followed by a return to training. The pain keeps coming back, however, and some days Sinner feels fine while on others the discomfort returns. Gilbert said Sinner is being seen by three different doctors, a point LaSexta also reported. Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that, even without an operation, Sinner will remain out for at least five months.
- Sinner wins the Wimbledon final against Alexander Zverev, his last match
- Sinner withdraws from the Cincinnati tournament, and Cahill is told at the last minute
- Sinner ends his 2026 season early to treat the knee
- Gilbert discusses Sinner's knee and Cahill's situation on the BigT podcast
Gilbert's warning about surgery
Gilbert said that if the pain were still present in December, when Sinner would need to step up training for the Australian Open, surgery would become an option. He argued that knee operations are far less invasive than they were thirty years ago, and that arthroscopic procedures are less invasive still. Fanpage reported that surgery is generally the last option in such cases. Gilbert also said he could not recall a year in which the two best players lost so much time to injuries. He suggested that too many advisers are weighing in on the decisions, which he said is not the best approach.
What remains open
Sinner's return date has not been announced, and Il Messaggero noted that few and fragmented details about his health are available. The stated target is the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2027. Whether Cahill will still work with Sinner in 2027 is unclear, and Il Fatto Quotidiano wrote that a separation could come at the end of the year. ANSA notes that Simone Vagnozzi works alongside Cahill and has been part of the team that guided Sinner to his biggest successes. Until a return date is confirmed, Gilbert's account of Cahill's position and the knee's progress remains the main public detail on the situation.
