Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
Jannik Sinner has been sidelined since July 12th, the day of his second Wimbledon triumph, and the right knee injury that's keeping him off the court hasn't fully resolved. The Italian has resumed training, but he's not yet fit to play a competitive match. After missing Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open, Sinner also had to withdraw from Beijing, where he was scheduled to defend the title he won a year ago.
The world number one is suffering from extra-articular tendon inflammation: he is undergoing a course of therapy and gradual work, but without a certain date for his return.
Shanghai, starting October 7, remains the first chance to see the 25-year-old from Pustertal back on the pitch, but as the days pass, his return to China appears increasingly complicated.
Then, from October 21st to 24th, there's the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, a packed exhibition tournament that could serve as a first test, though without offering ATP points. If time is still needed, Sinner could head straight to Vienna, starting October 26th, where he's expected to defend the title he won in 2025.
Then there will be the Paris Masters and, above all, the ATP Finals in Turin.
Meanwhile, the absences have begun to take their toll on the rankings. Sinner has already lost 2.450 points from the results he needs to defend between Cincinnati, the US Open, and Beijing, and now he must protect another 3.050 in the final part of the season. The world number one spot is still his, with 11.000 points compared to Alexander Zverev's 9.630. In the ATP Race to Turin, however, the picture is already different: the German is ahead by 700 points and can further extend his lead by playing in Beijing this week. And this is precisely the risk for Sinner. The longer he remains out, the harder it will be to defend first place. Zverev continues to play and score points, while the Italian is forced to watch.
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