Sinner Misses Asian Swing
Jannik Sinner Withdraws From Shanghai Masters and Extends Absence Through Asian Swing
Anonymous
Key Points
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The China Open announced total prize money of US$4,089,385 for its 2026 edition. The singles champion is set to receive US$764,750, while the winning doubles team will split US$251,200.
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Sinner said he was sorry to miss Shanghai, writing that he always enjoys playing in front of its fans and was “looking forward to seeing you again next year.”
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Sinner’s injury had also led him to withdraw from the US Open, according to the report.
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Sinner had little Shanghai ranking-point protection to lose: he was knocked out in the round of 32 there the previous year, the article reports.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters due to a right-knee injury, extending his absence through the entire Asian hard-court swing Japan Today. The 25-year-old Italian has now missed the Canadian Open, Cincinnati, the US Open, the China Open in Beijing, and Shanghai after last competing at Wimbledon in July Island Packet. Sinner consulted knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon and opted for conservative physical therapy rather than surgery, hoping to return for the Paris Masters on November 2.
The withdrawal opens the door for Alexander Zverev to challenge Sinner's year-end No. 1 ranking Daily Sports. Sinner currently holds a 1,370-point lead over Zverev, but defending 500 points in Vienna and 1,000 points in Paris could prove costly if he misses either event. Missing Shanghai cost him little: he lost in the Round of 32 there last year, leaving only 50 ranking points to protect.
A Knee Problem Sidelines Tennis's Top Player
Sinner's right-knee tendinopathy emerged during the North American hard-court stretch in August Daily Hunt. He first withdrew from Montreal and Cincinnati, then sat out the US Open entirely. His medical team diagnosed extra-articular tendon inflammation around the iliotibial band. Rather than risk structural damage through immediate competition, Sinner chose rest and targeted rehabilitation at his training base in Turin.
In a statement, Sinner said: "Unfortunately, I won't be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped. I always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans and I'm very sorry." He expressed hope to recover for Paris but acknowledged the uncertainty. Missing either Vienna (500 points) or Paris (1,000 points) could erase his ranking lead before the ATP Finals in November.
Zverev Eyes Year-End No. 1 While Djokovic Returns
Sinner's absence dramatically shifts the competitive landscape in Asia. Alexander Zverev, the reigning French Open and US Open champion, enters Shanghai trailing by 1,370 points. If Zverev wins both Beijing's China Open (500 points) and Shanghai (1,000 points), he could overtake Sinner by October 19 Daily Sports. Novak Djokovic, the six-time Beijing champion, returns to the Asian swing for the first time since 2015, adding marquee star power to fill the void.
The China Open announced total prize money of US$4,089,385 for 2026, with the singles champion receiving US$764,750. Daniil Medvedev and other top-10 players fill the 32-player ATP draw with no first-round byes. Tournament organizers leaned heavily on these names to maintain ticket sales and viewership after Sinner's withdrawal as defending champion.
Conservative Recovery Prioritized Over Short-Term Points
Sinner's decision reflects a calculated trade-off: preserve long-term career health over protecting 50 ranking points at Shanghai and 500 points in Vienna. His last competitive match was the Wimbledon final on July 12, when he defeated Zverev in four sets. Three months without competition is extreme, but Italian media emphasizes that chronic knee tendon failure poses far greater career risk than temporary ranking fluctuations.
Paris Masters begins November 2—just four months after Wimbledon. If Sinner returns there healthy, he can stabilize his ranking. If he misses Paris due to lingering injury, Zverev could claim the year-end No. 1 crown before the ATP Finals in Turin. The Italian champion gambled on recovery time over accumulating points during tennis's busiest indoor stretch.
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