World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has announced he will not compete in the China Open, citing his knee injury as the reason for his withdrawal. This injury also caused him to miss the US Open. Sinner has not played since winning his second consecutive Wimbledon title in July, having previously withdrawn from the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, key preparations for the hard-court season.
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"I'm very sorry to announce that I won't be able to play in Beijing this year," Sinner shared on social media. "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."
He expressed disappointment at missing the tournament, especially given his success at the China Open, where he won the title last year by defeating American Learner Tien.
This withdrawal could hinder Sinner’s chances of finishing the year as the top-ranked player, as Germany's Alexander Zverev leads in the ATP Race and could secure additional points in Beijing while Sinner is out. Current standings show Zverev leading with 8,650 points, followed by Sinner at 7,950.
Sinner hopes to be fit for the Shanghai Masters, which begins on October 7. His absence opens the door for Novak Djokovic, who will return to Beijing after an 11-year hiatus and aims to capitalize on Sinner's injury. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, boasts a perfect record at this tournament, having won six titles.
The men's draw for the China Open is scheduled from September 30 to October 6.