World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdraws from Beijing Open over persistent right knee injury
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced he will not defend his title at the ATP 500 China Open in Beijing starting 30 September, extending an injury absence that began on 12 July.
Withdrawal from Beijing
On 25 September 2026, world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner published a video message on social media announcing his withdrawal from the ATP 500 China Open. The hard-court tournament in Beijing is scheduled to begin on 30 September. The decision marks a reversal from expectations that circulated in preceding hours regarding a potential return to action in China. Sinner entered the event as the defending champion after lifting the trophy during the previous edition.
In his video address directed to tournament organizers and Chinese supporters, Sinner detailed why he could not participate.
My knee is not yet in the condition I would like it to be and I am not ready to compete yet. But I will do everything possible to return to the court as soon as possible.
He shared his regret over missing the atmosphere in the Chinese capital and being unable to defend his title on court.
What I miss the most is naturally the tournament, the fans and the atmosphere. In past years I had a really great time here and I also won the title last year. I am very disappointed not to be able to defend it this year, but I am happy to be able to return next year.
Injury recovery and return timeline
The Italian player has been away from competitive tennis since 12 July 2026, when he played his last match at Wimbledon. His absence stems from inflammation in his right knee caused by persistent tendinopathy. The ongoing medical condition already forced Sinner to withdraw from the US Open last month.
Although Sinner recently returned to practice sessions on court, his medical staff determined that the knee cannot withstand the rigors of five rounds of high-level competition. Sinner has not yet communicated an official date for his return to the ATP Tour. However, participation at the Shanghai Masters remains a viable option. At that Masters 1000 event, Sinner exited in the second round last year, leaving him with fewer points to defend and room for ranking gains if his physical recovery progresses.
- Sinner plays last competitive match at Wimbledon before knee tendinopathy halts play
- Sinner withdraws from the US Open due to knee inflammation
- Sinner announces withdrawal from Beijing title defense
- China Open tournament scheduled to begin in Beijing
Impact on the ATP world rankings
Sinner's withdrawal directly influences the race for the year-end ATP world No. 1 ranking. Alexander Zverev of Germany continues to narrow the points gap behind the Italian leader. Zverev has posted victories at both Roland-Garros and the US Open this season, capitalizing on physical setbacks that have disrupted the campaigns of both Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
By skipping Beijing, Sinner loses the ranking points earned from his title run last autumn without having the opportunity to replace them. Zverev's performance in upcoming events will determine how quickly he can challenge Sinner's position at the top of the standings. If Sinner is unable to regain full fitness before the Shanghai Masters, the pressure on his top ranking will intensify further across the remaining indoor and Asian hard-court calendar.
