The decision was disappointing on several counts, not least because the Italian media were noticeably optimistic about his chances of a comeback in Shanghai, a tournament he won in 2024.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped,” he wrote. “I always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans and I’m very sorry that I won’t be able to do it next week. Thanks for all your support. I look forward to seeing you again next year.”
Zverev number 1.
The nature of the injury has come into sharper focus. According to Italian journalist Gabriele Parpiglia, Sinner is dealing with iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, a condition where the band slides across the knee as the joint bends and straightens until the tissue between the fascia and the bone becomes inflamed.
The only certainty so far is that the knee hasn’t improved as quickly as his team had hoped.
Next on Sinner’s schedule is the Vienna Open, which starts on October 24, and he has also confirmed for the Paris Masters. In total, there are four tournaments left on the table, three of which have already been contested, and his record in them highlights just how much is at stake; he is a former champion in Vienna (2023 and 2025), Paris (2025), ATP Finals (2024 and 2025) and Davis Cup Finals (20 assists for Italy, where he twice assisted Italy for 20 and 4 titles in Bologna).
The ranking implications may be the most significant. Sinner remains atop the leaderboard with 11,000 points to Alexander Zverev’s 9,670, and in Shanghai he has just 50 points to defend. However, his absence gives Zverev a clear opening. the German could climb to world No. 1 as early as two weeks into this Masters 1000.
