World No.1 Sinner withdraws from China Open over knee injury, Zverev eyes No.1 spot

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from next week's China Open in Beijing due to a right knee injury, extending his absence since winning Wimbledon in July 2026. The Italian defending champion stated his knee 'is not where I would like it to be' and he's 'not ready to compete yet' but aims to return as soon as possible.

Sinner had dominated the 2026 season with a 44-3 record and six titles including Wimbledon, though he suffered a disappointing second-round exit at the French Open during a heatwave. His withdrawal from the China Open creates an opening for rival Alexander Zverev to potentially reach the ATP world No.1 ranking by season's end, with the current 1,810-point gap expected to shrink by at least 440 points in the next rankings.

Zverev, who enjoyed his best season in 2026 after winning Roland Garros and the US Open, is entered in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna tournaments over the coming weeks. Sinner has significantly more ranking points to defend than Zverev, having won the ATP 500 events in Beijing and Vienna, the Paris Masters 1000, and the ATP Finals in Turin in 2025.

Will you follow how this injury shakeup affects the men's tennis rankings, or does it highlight how even top athletes face vulnerability from injuries?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/25/world-no-1-jannik-sinner-withdraws-from-china-open/