FOOSH isn’t the sound of Jannik Sinner’s tennis serve; it’s the type of injury he sustained during his U.S. Open semifinal win against Jack Draper. FOOSH stands for “fall on an outstretched hand,” a term that simplifies the explanation. The key question now is how much his left wrist will be affected when he faces American Taylor Fritz in the finals on Sunday.
Sinner’s injury occurred in the second set of his 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory. While retreating for a ball, he fell backward onto his outstretched left hand. He won the point but immediately grabbed his wrist in pain. He received treatment, including a massage, from trainers and was later seen icing his wrist after the match. Sinner, the top seed in this year’s U.S. Open men’s singles draw, is hoping to recover in time for the final.
**How Jannik Sinner’s FOOSH Injury Might Impact the U.S. Open Final**
Jannik Sinner’s recent injury during his U.S. Open semifinal against Jack Draper raises concerns ahead of his final match. The term FOOSH stands for “fall on an outstretched hand,” which is how Sinner sustained the injury. The crucial question is how his left wrist will hold up when he faces Taylor Fritz in the finals.
Sinner’s injury occurred while he was retreating for a ball in the second set of his 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory. He fell backward onto his left hand, winning the point but immediately grimacing in pain. Afterward, he received treatment, including a massage, and was seen icing his wrist post-match. As the top seed in this year’s draw, Sinner hopes to recover quickly.
FOOSH injuries are common as people instinctively extend their arms to break a fall, which can lead to damage across the upper extremity—from bruises to fractures. Following such an injury, it’s vital to check for fractures or dislocations, as these conditions require prompt medical attention.
It appears that Sinner did not sustain any fractures or dislocations. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that the FOOSH injury could impact his performance on Sunday against Fritz. A soft tissue injury, tendon strain, or ligament sprain could still impair the strength and mobility of his left wrist.
Now, you may point out that Sinner is right-handed and an injury to his dominant wrist would have been much worse. That would be true. But his left hand and wrist will still play roles in all of his strokes.
Clearly, his left hand is important in his two-handed backhand because that’s why it is called two-handed. His left wrist will be a significant part of the swing and thus could affect his power and placement on that side.
