World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has announced that he will not be taking part in this year’s China Open, citing the fact that his knee has not yet recovered sufficiently for him to compete at the highest level.
The Italian star, who has been sidelined since his second consecutive Wimbledon triumph in July, continues to battle the lingering effects of the injury that also forced him to miss the US Open earlier in the season. Sinner’s last professional appearance came in the Wimbledon final, where he secured his back‑to‑back titles with a dominant performance.
Since that victory, he has not contested a single match, opting to skip the Canadian Open and withdraw from the Cincinnati Masters – two important hard‑court preparation events – before ultimately pulling out of the US Open as his knee problems persisted. In a brief statement posted to his social media channels, Sinner expressed his disappointment: "I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year. My knee is not where I would like it to be, and I’m not ready to compete yet, but I will do everything possible to be back on court as soon as I can. What I miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans and the atmosphere.
I’ve had a great time in the past, including winning the title last year, and I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year. So I wish everyone a very good tournament, and I’ll see you all very soon on court again." Last season, Sinner captured his second China Open crown by defeating American youngster Learner Tien in straight sets in the Beijing final. His victory cemented his status as one of the sport’s rising powerhouses and added valuable points to his ranking tally.
The abrupt withdrawal now represents a significant setback for his campaign to finish the year as the world’s top‑ranked player. At present, Germany’s Alexander Zverev leads the Live ATP Race with 8,650 points, while Sinner sits in second place with 7,950 points. The gap could widen further if Zverev capitalises on the points available in Beijing, as the Italian will be unable to defend any of his own.
The current top five in the race are: 1. Alexander Zverev – 8,650 points 2. Jannik Sinner – 7,950 points 3. Ben Shelton – 4,430 points 4.
Carlos Alcaraz – 4,050 points 5. Flavio Cobolli – 3,530 points The Italian’s absence also reshapes the narrative for the ATP 500 event, leaving Novak Djokovic as one of the marquee attractions. The 24‑time Grand Slam champion will be returning to Beijing after an eleven‑year hiatus, hoping to regain momentum following a shocking first‑round defeat at the US Open that dropped him to world No.
12. Djokovic boasts a flawless record at the China Open, having amassed six titles – the most in the tournament’s history – and will be eager to add another trophy to his collection. Looking ahead, Sinner hopes to recover in time for the Shanghai Masters, which kicks off on October 7 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. A successful comeback at that event could provide a vital boost to his ranking and confidence as the season draws to a close.
The men’s draw for the China Open runs from September 30 to October 6, offering fans a week of high‑quality tennis despite the disappointment of Sinner’s withdrawal. Spectators can still enjoy the tournament’s action via streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will be staged at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also available on Sky Sports.
In summary, Jannik Sinner’s decision to sit out the China Open underscores the seriousness of his knee injury and highlights the delicate balance elite athletes must maintain between recovery and competition. While his absence opens doors for rivals like Zverev and Djokovic to gain ground in the race for year‑end supremacy, Sinner remains optimistic about a swift return to the court, with the Shanghai Masters serving as his next target for a comeback.