World number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the China Open, saying on Friday he was not yet ready to compete as he continues to recover from the knee injury that also forced him to miss the U.S. Open.
The 25-year-old Italian has not played since retaining his Wimbledon title in July for his fifth Grand Slam crown.
Sinner skipped the Canadian Open and withdrew from the Cincinnati Open before pulling out of the U.S. Open in August because of the knee problem.
“I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year,” Sinner said on social media.
“My knee is not where I would like it to be, and I’m not ready to compete yet, but I will do everything possible to be back on court as soon as I can.
“What I miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans and the atmosphere. I’ve had a great time in the past, including winning the title last year, and I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year.”
Sinner added that he hoped to return to competition soon.
Sinner beat American Learner Tien in straight sets in last year’s Beijing final to claim his second China Open title, having also won the tournament in 2023.
His withdrawal leaves 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic among the leading attractions at the ATP 500 event. The Serb is returning to Beijing after an 11-year absence as he looks to regain momentum following a surprise first-round exit at the U.S. Open, which saw him drop to world number 12.
The 39-year-old has a perfect record in China Open finals and holds the tournament record with six titles.
The men’s China Open will be held from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6.
