FOOSH. That’s not the sound of Jannik Sinner’s tennis serve. FOOSH stands for “fall on an outstretched hand.” It’s a common injury that happens when someone falls and lands on their hand. This is exactly what happened to Italy’s Sinner during his semifinal match at the U.S. Open against England’s Jack Draper. The big question now is: how will Sinner’s injured left wrist affect his game against American Taylor Fritz in the men’s singles final on Sunday?

The Injury in the Semifinal

Sinner hurt his wrist in the second set of his 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 win over Draper. He fell backwards while reaching for a ball and landed on his outstretched left hand. Although he won the point, he immediately started clutching his wrist in pain. He got treatment from trainers, including a massage, and was seen icing his wrist after the match.

FOOSH injuries are common because people instinctively reach out with their hands when they fall. This can send strong forces through the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder, which might cause damage.

What to Know About FOOSH Injuries

FOOSH injuries can range from minor bruises and sprains to more serious fractures and dislocations. After such an injury, it’s important to check the entire arm for any fractures or dislocations. These serious issues need prompt medical care to decide if a brace or surgery is needed.

It seems like Sinner hasn’t broken or dislocated anything. But the FOOSH injury could still affect his performance against Fritz. Even without fractures, a soft tissue injury like a tendon strain or ligament sprain could weaken his left wrist.

Why the Left Hand and Wrist Matter

Sinner is right-handed, so an injury to his dominant wrist would be worse. But his left hand and wrist still matter. His two-handed backhand needs his left hand for power and control. An injured left wrist could make it harder for him to hit strong and accurate backhands.

Even with his one-handed forehand, the left hand is involved. It helps hold the racket when waiting for the ball, tracks the ball, and helps with the follow-through. An injured left wrist could affect all these actions.

His serve also relies on his left hand. It’s used to toss the ball and is involved in the follow-through. If his left wrist is limited, it could affect the serve’s accuracy and power.

Managing the Injury

How much the FOOSH injury affects Sinner’s game depends on how stiff and painful his wrist is. To manage the injury, he will likely use RICE—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—to reduce swelling. He might also take anti-inflammatory medications to help with pain and swelling. Physical therapy could be used to keep his wrist flexible.

Without a detailed look at Sinner’s injury, it’s hard to say exactly how it will impact his performance in the U.S. Open final. For now, it’s still an open question.

Also Read: 5 Key Milestones Aryna Sabalenka Achieved by Reaching the US Open 2024 Final

Wimbledon: What is a Walkover and How Many Occurred, Including Novak Djokovic’s?

Vishwajeet Jaiswal — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:49:46 +0000

24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the Wimbledon 2024 semifinals after his rival, Alex de Minaur, gave him a walkover. The latter advanced to his first-ever quarterfinal at the event after defeating Arthur Fils in four sets.

However, instead of celebrating when the final point was played, de Minaur appeared concerned. He thought he had injured himself in the final few points, and additional examinations confirmed his worst concerns. The Australian suffered a serious hip injury, which puts his Olympic participation in question.

What is a walkover in tennis?

Iga Swiatek (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Walkovers are quite common in tennis due to the short turnaround between matches and the demanding schedule. The term is commonly used when a player withdraws before the start of a match. Doing so in the middle of a match is referred to as retirement.

To play the scheduled match, a lucky loser is called to replace a player who withdraws before their first-round match. However, when this occurs in the later rounds, a player advances to the following round without taking a single shot.

Aside from Novak Djokovic’s walkover against de Minaur, there has only been one other instance of it this Wimbledon season. Lucas Pouille retired earlier to their third-round encounter with an injury, thus the Australian benefited from it.

While only a few walkovers have been granted at Wimbledon this year, there have been numerous mid-match retirements throughout the event. Madison Keys was on the verge of triumph in her fourth-round match against Jasmine Paolini but had to call it quits at 5-5 in the third set.

Grigor Dimitrov was unable to complete the first set of his fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev and was forced to withdraw at 5-3. Other players who retired from the competition included Anna Kalinskaya, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Camila Osorio, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Hubert Hurkacz.

Novak Djokovic to face either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti in the Wimbledon semifinals

A walkover was hardly how Djokovic envisioned himself reaching the Wimbledon semifinals. Nonetheless, he would be pleased to be another step closer to a 25th Major title. He could face Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti next.

The Serb leads Fritz 9-0 in their head-to-head matchup and also has a 5-1 advantage over Musetti. He will be the clear favourite to defeat either of them and advance to another final at the All-England Club.

If Djokovic makes it to the summit, he might face Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch from last year’s final. Daniil Medvedev, on the other hand, has the potential to play spoiler and eliminate the Spaniard to reach the final. In any case, the championship round promises to be entertaining.

Also Read: Andy Murray To Retire From Tennis After Wimbledon?

Taylor Fritz – Sporting Scroll