Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Rolex Shanghai Masters, extending an absence caused by right knee inflammation that began after his Wimbledon victory in July.
Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the China Open quarterfinals, preventing the German from taking the world number one ranking before November.
With 11,000 points compared to Zverev's 9,720, Sinner is guaranteed to hold the top spot for at least 95 total weeks through the Vienna Open final on 1 November.
Sinner must defend 3,000 ranking points across the Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals, while Zverev defends 980 points across the same events.
Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal from the Rolex Shanghai Masters due to an ongoing right knee injury. The Italian world number one has not competed since winning the Wimbledon title against Alexander Zverev in July. That layoff caused him to miss the Canadian Open, the Cincinnati Open, the US Open, and the China Open in Beijing. His absence coincided with an earlier five-month layoff for Carlos Alcaraz, who missed the French Open and Wimbledon with a right wrist injury before returning at the US Open. Sinner confirmed his absence from Shanghai in a social media message.
“Unfortunately, I won't be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped. I always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans and I'm very sorry that I won't be able to do so next week. Thank you for all your support. I'm looking forward to seeing you again next year!”
Alexander Zverev entered the Asian swing with an opportunity to claim the world number one ranking for the first time in his career. The 29-year-old German, who won the French Open and the US Open in 2026, needed back-to-back titles in Beijing and Shanghai to pass Sinner before the European indoor swing. Novak Djokovic stopped that push in the Beijing quarterfinals, defeating Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Zverev served 19 aces with an 80% first-serve success rate, but the 39-year-old Serbian recovered from a set down to reach the semifinals against Daniil Medvedev. After the match, Zverev noted the playing conditions in the Chinese capital.
“For me it was difficult to hit many winners because it was quite cold and the ball didn't bounce much. It was 11 degrees, I tried to be as aggressive as possible but that's how it went.”
The quarterfinal defeat in Beijing leaves Sinner at 11,000 ranking points and ensures he will stay at the top of the ATP rankings through at least 1 November, the date of the Vienna Open final. The outcome guarantees Sinner will reach at least 95 total weeks as world number one after first reaching the position on 10 June 2024. Zverev earned 90 points in Beijing to bring his tally to 9,720 points, maintaining second place ahead of Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Medvedev. Further down the top ten, Flavio Cobolli holds seventh place, Frances Tiafoe sits in eighth, and Alex De Minaur occupies ninth. Sinner faces a heavy schedule burden to close out 2026, needing to defend 3,000 points across the Vienna Open, the Paris Masters, and the ATP Finals in Turin, compared with 980 points for Zverev.
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Sinner's tournament return remains unresolved following a medical consultation in Lyon with orthopedic surgeon Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet at the Hopital Prive Jean Mermoz. An interrupted practice session in Monte Carlo with Riccardo Piatti's group indicated persistent inflammation in his right knee. Sinner's appearance at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, scheduled from 21 to 24 October, is in severe doubt despite a 1.5 million dollar participation fee and a scheduled quarterfinal match against De Minaur. Sinner is the defending champion at the Vienna Open, which starts on 26 October, but has not yet confirmed his participation in Austria. His medical and coaching staff are prioritizing long-term recovery to ensure fitness for Turin rather than rushing back to court.
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Jannik Sinner will skip the Shanghai Masters due to an ongoing right knee injury, but Alexander Zverev's quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic in Beijing guarantees the Italian will remain world number one until at least 1 November.
AI text based on reports by The New York Times, AGI, Fanpage and other publishers. Published .