A withdrawal that’s costing Arthur Rinderknech dearly, one year after that incredible final

Arthur Rinderknech’s Asian tour has ended early. The French tennis player, dealing with an abdominal injury, has also withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters 1000, scheduled for October 7–18, after being forced to skip the Beijing ATP 500.

The 31-year-old, ranked No. 33 in the world, was scheduled to make his debut in Beijing against Alex Molcan, but the injury prevented him from taking the court. After undergoing the necessary medical examinations, Rinderknech decided to cut short his tour and has already returned to France.

His absence from Shanghai will also have serious consequences for his ranking. It was at that very tournament in China, twelve months ago, that the Frenchman reached the final, earning 650 points. It was in Shanghai, exactly twelve months ago, that Rinderknech had an unforgettable tournament, reaching the final against his cousin Valentin Vacherot. The Monegasque player, then ranked No. 204 in the world, emerged victorious, staging a comeback to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in one of the most surprising finals in the recent history of the Chinese Masters 1000.

Unable to defend the points he earned last year, Rinderknech will lose ground in the rankings and slip out of the top 50 in the world for the first time this season.