Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon campaign looked momentarily threatened when a nasty slip in his fourth-round clash with Grigor Dimitrov left him clutching his right arm. The World No. 1, who later took a medical timeout to tend to his elbow, flashed a reassuring thumbs-up from the bench, but the concern was real. Even his coach Darren Cahill couldn’t hide a flicker of worry. Sinner admitted afterward that an MRI was scheduled for Tuesday “to see if there’s something serious.” As he takes on Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, his coach has provided an update on his health.

In his fourth-round match, the signs of discomfort were hard to miss. The World No. 1 noticeably took some pace off his first serve, with the average speed dipping by five kilometers per hour to 197 km/h.  He had bulldozed his way into the second week, dropping just 17 games across the first three rounds. Therefore, his tally of 21 unforced errors against Grigor Dimitrov was uncharacteristic and telling.

The timing couldn’t have been worse either. Just three days before Wimbledon began, Sinner parted ways with his longtime fitness trainer Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, a shake-up that may have added an extra layer of vulnerability heading into the year’s third major.

Jannik Sinner sparked concerns when he cancelled his scheduled practice at Aorangi Park on Tuesday. However, the 23-year-old Italian was back on the grind, getting in some reps on an indoor court. With co-coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill feeding him balls, Sinner went through a short 20-30 minute session that seemed to calm a few nerves.

Cahill later offered ESPN a much-needed update on his mentee’s status and said, “He was good. As you saw, he practiced pretty well. Normal practice for us is about an hour. It was actually a little bit longer than normal. He’s ready to go.” Still, questions linger. Will that elbow hold up when the stakes rise under Centre Court’s spotlight? Cahill kept it honest: “We don’t know. He felt fine this morning. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. He’s ready to go. He’s confident. Playing well. We’ll see how it goes.”

Jannik Sinner was seen wearing a protective arm sleeve to support his elbow and make his powerful shots.  Meanwhile, his opponent Ben Shelton was also seen with some strange bruises on his body. What are they?

Jannik Sinner’s quarterfinal opponent Ben Shelton’s  “cupping” marks explained

Ben Shelton took to Centre Court in his signature tank top for his highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner—but it wasn’t just his booming serve or electric energy that caught the eye. Sharp-eyed fans quickly noticed strange, dark red and purple circles on his arms and shoulders, sparking curiosity.

The marks are the result of cupping therapy, an ancient healing practice that dates back to Chinese, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern traditions. Those distinctive circular bruises have become a familiar sight in the athletic world, with elite sports stars swearing by the technique for recovery and muscle relief.

Cupping involves placing glass, plastic, or silicone cups on the skin and creating a vacuum, either by heating the air inside or using a mechanical pump. The suction draws the skin and deeper tissues upward, helping increase blood flow and stretch the fascia, the body’s web of connective tissue made primarily of collagen. The treatment is also believed to release muscle knots, reduce tension, and even stimulate the immune system. In fact, Shelton had been spotted with similar marks earlier in the tournament, suggesting it’s part of his routine.

As for the man across the net, Jannik Sinner is eyeing his first-ever Wimbledon final after cruising into the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year. The 23-year-old may have fallen at this stage to Daniil Medvedev in 2024, but he’s already secured his place at the top—Sinner will remain No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings regardless of the outcome this fortnight.

On the other side, Shelton’s Wimbledon run has already been historic. The young American cracked the Top 10 for the first time just before the tournament and is now playing in his first quarterfinal at the All England Club. Experience the Championships as they unfold with EssentiallySports’ real-time updates.