Sinner Pushes Back Tennis Return

World number one Jannik Sinner has delayed his return to competitive tennis after withdrawing from next week’s China Open in Beijing as he continues to recover from a right knee injury.

The Italian, sidelined since winning his Wimbledon title in July, confirmed his absence on Friday, saying he is not yet ready to return to the court.

“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 there as soon as I can,” Sinner said on X.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has not played since defeating his opponent in the Wimbledon final on July 12. He also withdrew from last month’s US Open to focus on his recovery.

Sinner had enjoyed a dominant 2026 season before the injury setback, recording 44 wins from 47 matches and claiming six titles, including his second Wimbledon crown. However, his year also featured disappointment at the French Open, where the defending champion and pre-tournament favourite suffered a second-round exit after struggling in extreme heat.

His continued absence has opened the possibility of a late-season rankings battle with Alexander Zverev. The German is currently second in the ATP rankings, trailing Sinner by 1,810 points, although that gap is expected to reduce after the next rankings update.

Sinner also faces a heavier points defence in the final months of the season after winning major events in Beijing and Vienna, the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in 2025.

Zverev, meanwhile, enters the closing stretch of the season with momentum after securing the first two Grand Slam titles of his career in 2026 at Roland Garros and the US Open. The 29-year-old also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the Wimbledon final.

The German is scheduled to compete in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna as he looks to close the gap at the top of men’s tennis.