Jannik Sinner withdraws from China Open due to knee injury

World number one Jannik Sinner has announced his withdrawal from the China Open in Beijing due to a persistent right knee injury. The Italian player, who has not competed in an official match since winning Wimbledon in July, expressed deep disappointment at being unable to defend his title.

Sinner’s absence follows previous withdrawals from the US Open, the Canadian Open, Toronto, and Cincinnati. His continued inactivity has raised concerns regarding the physical toll of modern tennis. Former tennis legend Adriano Panatta noted that the high-intensity style of play and modern equipment may be contributing to a significant increase in player injuries.

With Sinner sidelined, Alexander Zverev has become the top seed and favorite for the China Open. Zverev now has a mathematical opportunity to reach the ATP number one ranking, potentially as early as the Shanghai Masters, provided Sinner remains absent from upcoming competitions.