Jannik Sinner will not return to the field in BeijingThe world number 1 has announced his withdrawal from the China Open, tournament ATP 500 scheduled from September 30th to October 6th, explaining on social media that the right knee he is not yet in the necessary condition to face a competition.
"I'm disappointed to announce that I won't be able to play in Beijing this year: my knee isn't yet in ideal condition, I'm not ready to compete yet," Sinner said in a video. The Italian then added that he wants to "do everything to return to the court as soon as possible," expressing disappointment at not being able to defend the title he won last year.
Sinner skips Beijing and loses 500 points: Zverev closes in on the top spot
Beijing's resignation comes as a surprise, following encouraging signs in recent days. In particular, the return to training in Monte Carlo and the session held together with Flavio Cobolli had fueled optimism about the possibility of seeing Sinner back on court soon, so much so that the organizers of the China Open expected him to arrive in China on Sunday. The on-court sensations, however, have not yet been what they were looking for: his right knee, sidelined by tendon inflammation, does not currently offer sufficient guarantees for a return to competition. Sinner, who has not played a competitive match since the Wimbledon final on July 12 against Alexander Zverev, has thus chosen, along with his team, not to rush things, after missing the entire American trip and following a long course of therapies at J Medical in Turin.
The stop also has consequences on the ATP rankingSinner will lose the 500 points he earned for last year's Beijing title. Zverev, world number 2, was 1.810 points off the lead after the US Open and can now further close the gap by playing in China.
Sinner's Upcoming Tournaments
Having skipped Beijing, the next appointment on the calendar is Shanghai Masters 1000, from 7 to 18 October, but Sinner's presence is still to be evaluated. The Italian could in fact take more time and return directly to Europe: among the alternatives are the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, from 21 to 24 October, and above all theATP 500 in Vienna, from October 26th to November 1st. Following there will be the Paris Masters 1000, from November 2nd to 8th, and the ATP Finals in Turin, from 15 to 22 November.
