Jannik Sinner faced off against Ben Shelton in a gripping Wimbledon quarterfinal on July 9, 2025, overcoming a painful elbow injury sustained just days earlier. Despite his condition, Sinner displayed remarkable resilience and skill, prevailing in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the prestigious tournament.
The match took place on Court 1 in London, where Sinner arrived wearing a compression sleeve on his right elbow after an earlier injury. Serving at speeds close to 130 MPH, Sinner’s performance silenced concerns about his fitness as he secured the victory with scores of 7-6, 6-4, 6-4. His tenacity and expertise as the world No. 1 player shone through despite obvious discomfort.
How Sinner Powered Through Injury to Claim Victory
Jannik Sinner’s journey to the Wimbledon quarterfinal win was marked by both physical pain and mental strength. His elbow injury originated during an intense first set against Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the week, when a fall left him favoring his arm. The match ended abruptly as Dimitrov withdrew with his own injury, but Sinner’s path forward was uncertain until an MRI could determine the severity of his condition.
Between matches, Sinner opted for limited court practice under the careful guidance of his coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill. The sessions were deliberately brief, lasting only about 20-30 minutes, intended to maintain focus without aggravating his injury. Cahill later shared,
“No news on the MRI just yet. He had it earlier today and he can’t take a day off, so he wanted to touch the ball… So Simone and myself just fed him a few balls out of the basket.”
This balanced approach aimed to keep Sinner’s timing sharp on grass, where uneven bounces can be tricky.
Sinner’s ability to control pain during the match was notable, as he only flinched once due to his elbow. Reflecting on his mindset, Sinner said,
“Yeah, I mean, when you are in a match with a lot of tension, you try not to think about it. It has improved a lot since yesterday to today. Yesterday, my day was very short on the practice court, 20 minutes with the coaches only. But in the other way, I’m looking forward to it. It’s no excuse, so there is no better stage to play tennis, and I think I showed this today,”
followed by,
“Again, the atmosphere helps me so much, so thank you so much for the support.”
Managing Injury Without a Personal Physio
Adding to Sinner’s challenge was his recent decision to proceed without his customary physio team. Prior to Wimbledon, he parted ways with key medical support members Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, who had joined him following controversies involving previous team members. This left Sinner relying solely on the ATP’s medical staff for ongoing treatment and support during the competition.
Sinner described the impact of his elbow injury with calm certainty:
“I mean, it happened very early in the match, you know, the first game, and it was a quite unfortunate fall. I checked the videos a little bit, and it didn’t seem like a tough one, but you know, I still felt it quite a lot, especially the serving forehand, so I could feel it. So, um, let’s see. Tomorrow, we are going to check to see how it is, and then we will see,”
demonstrating cautious optimism despite the pain.
When asked how he has coped without his regular physio team, Sinner noted,
“Here they have good ATP physios. In any case, the doctor is good and as I said, tomorrow we’re going to check with you know MRI and to see if there’s something serious. And then we try to adjust it.”
This pragmatic acceptance of his situation has enabled him to concentrate fully on his on-court performance despite medical uncertainties.
Context of Sinner’s Recent Team Changes and Career Momentum
The departure of his physio team was a significant upheaval for Sinner, especially as his aides Panichi and Badio had supported him through highly successful runs last season including the Shanghai Masters, ATP Finals, and Australian Open victories. Yet Sinner was clear about the decision, emphasizing progress and gratitude as he stated,
“We’ve reached incredible results in the past with them, so obviously huge thanks to them. We made some great (results), but I decided to do something different.”
Coming into Wimbledon, Sinner’s form had shown promising consistency, highlighted by memorable performances under pressure such as his 2024 US Open semifinal against Jack Draper, when he sustained an injury but kept fighting and ultimately won the title. This capacity to thrive during adversity was once again on display against Shelton.
With the quarterfinal win, Sinner now joins Rafael Nadal as the youngest player at 23 to reach four consecutive Grand Slam semifinals since 2009. This achievement is all the more remarkable given Sinner’s lack of a personal physio and the ongoing challenge of his elbow injury.
Looking Ahead to the Wimbledon Semifinals
Jannik Sinner’s victory over Ben Shelton places him in the Wimbledon semifinals, where he is likely to face either Novak Djokovic or Italian player Flavio Cobolli. Djokovic, a multiple-time champion, is himself contending with injury issues after recently playing through significant physical strain.
The upcoming match will test Sinner’s endurance and resilience, as he aims to reach his first Wimbledon final. Fans and observers remain anxious yet hopeful, watching closely to see if Sinner can maintain his momentum despite the physical setbacks.
Sinner’s triumph over his Ben Shelton Wimbledon quarterfinals opponent underscores his poise and determination at the highest level of tennis. His ability to balance injury management with intense competition will be crucial in the final stages of this major tournament.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ben Shelton sponsored by Rolex?
A. In 2024, Ben Shelton was chosen to be a brand ambassador for Rolex.
Q. Does Ben Shelton have a degree?
A. While studying finance at the University of Florida, he changed to an online business degree when he went pro. He’s eager to learn and engage with all parts of the business related to his tennis. This is significant because he’s the one making the final choices.