Will Jannik Sinner play Shanghai Masters 2026?

Sinner has withdrawn from Shanghai, further extending his return to tennis action

Jannik Sinner has officially pulled out of the Shanghai Masters 2026. The World No. 1 confirmed his withdrawal on October 3, just days before the main draw begins. He did not give a clear reason, but the decision matches what reports from Italy had suggested.

The penultimate Masters 1000 event of the ATP season runs from October 7 to 18 at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China. Sinner has not played since defending his Wimbledon title in July, and his return still has no confirmed date.

A right knee problem kept Jannik Sinner out of the Canadian Open, and he withdrew from Cincinnati in August. He then sat out the US Open, which must have hurt the most, given how much success he has enjoyed in New York.

He was expected to make his comeback at the China Open but pulled out on September 25 after a practice session. “My knee is not there where I would like it to be,” he said.

The speculation has not stopped about his injury status and comeback date. Italian media report that the problem is iliotibial band syndrome, though Sinner has not confirmed it. Another report says he has clinically recovered from tendon inflammation.

Corriere dello Sport said he could skip the entire Asian swing and aim for a November return, with surgery a last resort if rest fails. One report even claimed he might miss the rest of 2026.

Sky Sport Italia, which remains one of the more reliable outlets on Sinner’s injury status, reported that the knee has healed and that he has stepped up his training intensity in Monte Carlo. His team was expected to decide on October 1, after final on-court tests, whether he would travel to Shanghai. The decision came two days later.

The Italian may well be physically ready, but he may not have reached his best level yet, which is understandable for a player who has been on the sidelines for so long. His team is unlikely to take a risk, because the ATP Finals in Turin, where he is the defending champion, is the main target.

The withdrawal costs him little in ranking points. He lost in the third round in Shanghai last year, retiring against Tallon Griekspoor, so he drops only 50 points.

The ATP Vienna Open and Paris Masters are next in line, along with the Six Kings Slam (Riyadh-based exhibition event).

According to Punto de Break, the Italian has warned the Six Kings Slam organizers that his participation would be complicated. While the event carries no points, Sinner will miss out on a lucrative prize pool. He is also a two-time defending champion in Riyadh.

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