Jannik Sinner will not defend his China Open title this year after the world No. 1 confirmed his withdrawal from the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing because of an ongoing knee injury.
The Italian star was expected to make his return to competitive tennis at the China Open after missing the US Open, but his comeback has now been delayed again. Sinner said his knee is still not where he wants it to be and that he is not ready to compete.
The China Open men’s tournament is scheduled to take place in Beijing from September 30 to October 6. Sinner’s withdrawal means the defending champion will not have the opportunity to chase a third title at the event.
Sinner confirms China Open withdrawal
Sinner announced the decision through a video posted on social media. He apologised to his Chinese fans and explained that his recovery has not progressed far enough for him to return to competition.
The 25-year-old said he will continue working towards getting back on court as soon as possible. He also expressed his disappointment at missing the tournament, particularly because of the strong memories he has built in Beijing.
That decision comes after a long period away from competitive tennis. Sinner’s last official match was the Wimbledon final on July 12, when he defeated Alexander Zverev to win his fifth Grand Slam title.
Since then, the Italian has missed several major tournaments while dealing with his right knee problem.
Same knee injury forced Sinner out of US Open
Sinner’s latest withdrawal is directly connected to the injury that also kept him out of the 2026 US Open.
In August, Sinner confirmed that he would miss the New York Grand Slam after admitting that his right knee still needed more time to recover. He had returned to court for training in Monte Carlo but decided that competing at the US Open would be premature.
Before the US Open, Sinner had also skipped the Canadian Open and withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open as he managed the injury.
At the time, his team had hoped that he could recover in time for the Asian swing, with Beijing and Shanghai identified as possible comeback events. The China Open withdrawal shows that his return will take longer than initially hoped.
For a player who has been competing at the highest level throughout the season, the extended break is significant. Sinner had produced a remarkable start to 2026, winning six titles and building a 44-3 match record before his injury-related absence.
Sinner has dominated Beijing in recent years
Sinner’s absence will be particularly noticeable because Beijing has become one of the Italian’s most successful tournaments.
He won the China Open in 2023 and 2025, while also reaching the final in 2024. That means Sinner reached the final in all three of his previous appearances at the ATP 500 event.
His 2025 campaign in Beijing ended with another trophy, making him the defending champion heading into this year’s tournament.
Sinner’s withdrawal therefore changes the complexion of the men’s event. Instead of watching the world No. 1 attempt to complete another successful title defence, fans will have to wait for his next competitive appearance.
The Italian has not announced a specific date for his return.
Djokovic and Zverev remain among the big names
Although Sinner is out, the China Open still has a strong field.
Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic are among the headline players expected in Beijing. Zverev has already shared an important part of Sinner’s recent story, having lost to him in the 2026 Wimbledon final.
Djokovic’s return is another major talking point.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is scheduled to play in Beijing for the first time since 2015. Djokovic has a perfect 29-0 record at the China Open and has won all six editions in which he previously competed, according to ATP data.
With Sinner unavailable, Djokovic’s return will receive even more attention, while Zverev will also have an opportunity to collect valuable ranking points.
The official ATP entry list also includes players such as Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev, Flavio Cobolli and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
What does the withdrawal mean for Sinner’s ranking?
Sinner remains the world No. 1, but his extended absence is creating an interesting situation at the top of the ATP standings.
The Italian’s lack of match play also affects the year-end No. 1 race. According to the latest live ATP Race figures reported by Sky Sports, Alexander Zverev had moved ahead of Sinner, with Zverev on 8,650 points compared with Sinner’s 7,950.
That does not mean Sinner has lost the No. 1 ranking. The ATP ranking and the year-end race are separate calculations, and the standings can change as tournaments are played.
However, every tournament Sinner misses reduces his opportunity to add points while his rivals continue competing.
The China Open could therefore be important for Zverev as he attempts to build his points total. A strong run in Beijing could give him another opportunity to close the gap in the battle for the top spot.
When could Sinner return?
That is the biggest question surrounding Sinner right now.
The Shanghai Masters begins on October 7, immediately after the China Open. It is a Masters 1000 event and would represent another possible opportunity for Sinner to return to competition. However, there has been no confirmation that he will play in Shanghai.
Sinner has made it clear that he wants to return only when his knee is ready. That approach is understandable given the amount of tennis still left in the season and the importance of avoiding a rushed comeback.
The ATP calendar also includes later events, including the Vienna Open from October 26, while the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin remain a major target for the world’s leading players.
For now, though, Sinner’s message is simple: he needs more time.
A disappointing setback, but Sinner is looking ahead
Missing the China Open is another frustrating moment for Sinner after an outstanding first half of the season.
He won Wimbledon, collected multiple major titles earlier in the year and established himself as one of the dominant players on tour. But injuries can quickly change the schedule of even the busiest tennis stars.
Sinner will now continue his recovery away from tournament competition, while the China Open moves ahead without its defending champion.
For fans, the focus will shift from when Sinner can defend his Beijing title to when he can finally step back onto a competitive court.
His return date remains uncertain, but Sinner has indicated that he is doing everything possible to get back as soon as he is ready.
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