Jannik Sinner withdraws from Shanghai Masters due to right knee problem

On October 3, 2026, Jannik Sinner again postponed his comeback, withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters scheduled for October 7–18 because of a problem with his right knee. The world No. 1 also pulled out of the China Open in Beijing last week, meaning he will not play any event on the Asian swing.

Sinner has not played a competitive match since July 12, when he beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final and claimed the fifth Grand Slam title of his career. Knee trouble forced him to skip tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati and to miss the US Open, and he was also unable to defend his Beijing title.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play the Shanghai Masters, as I had hoped. I am very sorry that I will not be there next week,” Sinner wrote on Instagram.

Uncertain return and surgery questions

Italian media have reported that Sinner recently consulted a specialist in Lyon and raised questions about whether surgery might be necessary. Neither Sinner nor his team have announced that an operation has been scheduled, and his latest statement gave no indication of a concrete return date.

The extended absence also complicates the fight for the top spot on the ATP rankings. Alexander Zverev trails Sinner by 1,370 points, and Sinner will not be able to defend the points he won in Shanghai in 2024. Strong results for Zverev in Beijing and Shanghai could seriously challenge Sinner’s lead.

Sinner had an almost flawless second half of the season before the injury, posting a 44–3 record, winning Masters titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, and then triumphing at Wimbledon. His next listed larger event is in Vienna at the end of October, but following the Shanghai withdrawal there is no confirmation he will play there.

Photo: press material from the event