Jannik Sinner’s coach provides update on his injury ahead of US Open final with Carlos Alcaraz

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Jannik Sinner continued his march towards a second consecutive US Open title on Friday evening, but encountered a real setback during the second set.

Leading Felix Auger-Aliassime by a set to love, things were looking good for the world number one, before he began to struggle with injury.

Holding his stomach, Sinner required treatment on the area, as his Canadian opponent levelled things up 3-6, 6-3.

With the treatment proving effective, Sinner pulled through to win in four sets, booking his place in Sunday’s final.

Ahead of the US Open final, Sinner’s coach, Simone Vagnozzi, has provided an update on the Italian’s health.

Simone Vagnozzi thinks Jannik Sinner will be ‘fine’ for the US Open final despite injury scare

Speaking to Super Tennis, after the match, Vagnozzi shed some insight into the injury Sinner suffered during the semifinal.

“He just had a little abdominal discomfort at one point, but after treatment with the physiotherapist, it went away. When he came back, he wasn’t sure how he was doing in the first few games, so he didn’t push. Then he started pushing, and his serve got better and better. I think he’s fine for Sunday,” he said.

Vagnozzi explained how the injury affected Sinner’s serve, which wasn’t as strong as usual against Auger-Aliassime.

“During the match, we recommended a few more kicks to start the rally with an advantage,” he said.

“Then the abdominal discomfort complicated the situation; he felt more pain when throwing the ball back. 

“Maybe at a certain point, he played too much in the middle, and Auger-Aliassime was able to swing his forehand. It’s not easy to change heights against someone who serves and pushes so hard.”

Sinner’s first serve % against Auger-Aliassime was the worst it’s been all tournament, at just 53%.

The 24-year-old will be hoping those numbers improve for the final, as he prepares to take on his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz.

Simone Vagnozzi is preparing for Carlos Alcaraz to ‘do something different’ against Jannik Sinner

Alcaraz and Sinner have played each other 14 times previously on the ATP Tour, as the Spaniard leads their head-to-head 9-5.

It was Sinner who won their most recent Grand Slam encounter, however, defeating Alcaraz in the 2025 Wimbledon final.

As they prepare for a third Grand Slam final meeting of 2025, Vagnozzi is expecting Alcaraz to change things up.

“Carlos [Alcaraz] will try to do something different than in the Wimbledon final, so we have to prepare,” he said.

“Carlos can vary a lot; he can use different tactics, so you have to prepare as best you can and try to execute your plan.”

“It will be a very difficult match against Carlos.”

Vagnozzi is expecting a tough match on Sunday, but the likelihood is that Alcaraz and his team are saying the exact same thing.

Despite Alcaraz’s head-to-head advantage over Sinner, the majority of their matches have been close-run affairs.

Seven of their 14 matches (50%) have required a deciding set, a remarkable statistic.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s closest matches

• 2025 French Open final – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6
• 2024 China Open final – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6
• 2024 French Open semifinal – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• 2024 Indian Wells semifinal – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
• 2023 Miami Open semifinal – Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
• 2022 US Open quarterfinal – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3
• 2022 Croatia Open final – Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1

Only time will tell if their 15th meeting will go the distance, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

Sinner and Alcaraz will contest the 2025 US Open final on Sunday, September 7.