Jannik Sinner withdraws from China Open due to lingering knee injury
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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was the defending champion in Beijing
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Jannik Sinner‘s return to professional tennis has officially hit another setback, with the Italian deciding to withdraw from the ATP China Open 2026. Posting a video message on September 25, Sinner confirmed his absence from the tournament, which is set to begin on September 30.
Having not played a match since winning in Wimbledon, Sinner’s comeback was long awaited. He was expected to feature in Beijing, but as reported earlier, there were reports that he was still not at his 100% best physically.
RELATED: Major update on Jannik Sinner’s injury & return date ahead of China Open 2026
Sinner missed the entire North-American hard-court swing and the US Open due to a right knee injury (extra-articular tendinitis/inflammation). Unconfirmed reports suggested that while Sinner was undergoing practice hits in Turin, he and his team are not willing to push the body until the knee recovers completely.
It is understood that Sinner’s priority is to play the year-end ATP Finals, which will take place in Turin in November. Sinner wants to defend his title at the end of the season and be fit for the next cycle. Should he not regain complete fitness, he could potentially miss further action, including tournaments in Shanghai and Vienna.
“Hello everyone, Jannik here. I want to send the warmest greetings to the Chinese fans. I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year”, Sinner said in his video message on X.
“My knee is not where I would like it to be, and I’m not ready to compete, but I will do everything possible to be there on court as soon as I can. What I’ll miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans, and the atmosphere.
I’ve had a great time in the past, winning the title last year. I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year. I wish everyone a very good tournament, and I’ll see you all very soon.”
The 25-year-old Italian will also drop 500 ranking points as he will not return to defend his crown. In Sinner’s absence, the China Open 2026 field will be led by two-time Grand Slam winner Alexander Zverev. The likes of Félix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and Flavio Cobolli complete the top 4. Also in the spotlight will be returning six-time China Open champion Novak Djokovic, who has never lost a match in Beijing so far.
Why did Jannik Sinner withdraw from the ATP China Open 2026?
Sinner withdrew due to a lingering right knee injury (extra-articular tendinitis/inflammation) that has kept him out of action since Wimbledon, with his team unwilling to push his recovery.
How many ranking points will Jannik Sinner lose after skipping the China Open?
Sinner will drop 500 ranking points as he will not return to defend his China Open title.
Who are the top contenders at the China Open 2026 in Sinner’s absence?
The field will be led by two-time Grand Slam winner Alexander Zverev, alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Flavio Cobolli, with six-time champion Novak Djokovic also in the spotlight.
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