World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will make his competitive comeback at the ATP 500 China Open in Beijing, starting September 30, tournament organisers confirmed. The Italian headlines the draw alongside Novak Djokovic, with seven of the world's top ten players committed to the event.
Sinner has been sidelined since his Wimbledon triumph on July 12 after being diagnosed with extra-articular inflammation in his right knee. The condition forced him to skip the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati, as well as the 2026 US Open — the first Grand Slam he has missed since 2019.
The 24-year-old completed a three-week treatment programme at J Medical in Turin before receiving clearance to resume high-intensity training. He returned to the court at the Circolo Stampa Sporting in Turin on September 8, his first on-court session since the US Open withdrawal. Training has since moved to the Monte Carlo Country Club, where Sinner has been hitting alongside French prospect Hugo Jathiere, a student at the Piatti Tennis Center.
At the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on September 7, Sinner told reporters "everything is fine" when asked about the knee. His team, however, is taking a measured approach: daily training sessions are designed to assess his endurance and response to movements, with the final go-ahead for Beijing contingent on how the knee reacts during the ramp-up.
The decision to skip the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 25-27 — originally seen as a natural stepping stone — underscores the caution surrounding his return. Sinner's priority is a full recovery rather than a rushed comeback, with the focus now on arriving in China in the right physical condition.
Sinner is the defending champion in Beijing, having beaten Alex de Minaur in last year's semifinals before sweeping American Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in the final. A strong performance in China would bolster his position at the top of the rankings as the season enters its decisive phase, with the Masters 1000 in Shanghai (October 7-18) following immediately after.
Sources
- https://tennisnow.com/sinner-eyes-return-in-beijing-this-month/
- https://en.lasicilia.it/news/sport/3073661/sinner-the-comeback-has-begun-training-in-monte-carlo-in-preparation-for-beijing.html
- https://lentedesportiva.com/beijing-over-london-sinner-is-back/
