Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Rolex Shanghai Masters as the world No. 1 continues his recovery from a right-knee injury that has kept him out of competition since his Wimbledon triumph in July.
The 25-year-old Italian announced his decision Saturday, extending an absence that has already forced him to miss the entire North American hard-court swing, including the U.S. Open, as well as this week's China Open in Beijing.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped," Sinner wrote on Instagram. "I always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans and I'm very sorry that I won't be able to do so next week."
Sinner has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final on July 12. He has been dealing with extra-articular tendon inflammation in his right knee and has opted for a conservative recovery program rather than rushing back to competition.
Italian media reported that Sinner consulted French knee specialist Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon on Friday. The surgeon, who has treated several high-profile athletes, reportedly recommended continuing with non-surgical treatment.
Sinner's withdrawal means his competitive absence will stretch beyond three months, with his next potential opportunity to return coming at the Vienna Open later this month.
The Shanghai Masters, an ATP 1000 event scheduled for Oct. 7-18 at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, will still feature a deep field led by four-time champion Novak Djokovic. Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, Félix Auger-Aliassime and defending champion Valentin Vacherot are also entered.
Sinner won the Shanghai title in 2024, beating Djokovic in the final. He will now surrender the opportunity to defend points at an event where he made an early exit last year.
His absence also adds another twist to the battle for the No. 1 ranking.
Zverev, who has won the French Open and U.S. Open this season, is Sinner's closest challenger and can move to the top of the rankings for the first time if he wins both the China Open and Shanghai Masters.
Sinner entered the Asian swing with a lead of roughly 1,370 points over Zverev. The Italian is also set to lose the 500 points he earned as Beijing champion last year, while Zverev has relatively few points to defend during the Asian swing.
That leaves the door open for Zverev to make significant ground in the coming weeks, although the race is likely to extend beyond Shanghai. Sinner has additional ranking points to defend at tournaments later in the season, including Vienna, the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.
Despite his lengthy layoff, Sinner has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign. He has posted a 44-3 record and won six titles, including five Masters 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. Those victories completed his Career Golden Masters, while his Wimbledon triumph gave him a fifth Grand Slam title.
The ATP Finals in Turin, where Sinner is the two-time defending champion, remain one of the major targets on his schedule.
