Jannik Sinner, statement on his return: “Nothing serious, reassuring news”

The entry list for the ATP 500 in Beijing, scheduled to begin on September 30, has been officially released, and Jannik Sinner—listed as the world No. 1—is among the participants. According to the organizers, it is in China that the Italian champion is expected to return to the court following the hiatus that forced him to withdraw from the U.S. Open. The Chinese tournament is once again set to feature a top-tier field. The prize money exceeds four million euros, and there are seven players ranked in the world’s top ten, including Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

To see one of the great rivalries in world tennis play out on the court again, however, fans will have to wait at least until the Shanghai Masters 1000. Carlos Alcaraz has in fact chosen to compete in the ATP 500 in Tokyo, a tournament taking place on the same dates as the one in Beijing. In China, however, officials are confident that Sinner will be there and are counting on seeing him on the court to defend the title he won last year. This was confirmed by the tournament director, former chair umpire Lars Graf, who spoke of encouraging signs coming from Italy. “I’m hearing reassuring reports from Italy. Jannik is training well and is managing his recovery wisely. Unfortunately, tennis presents these kinds of unexpected challenges, but fortunately it’s nothing serious, and we’re waiting for him with open arms.”

The world No. 1 can also count on a large following in China. “The Chinese public has a passion for him; he’s so calm, kind, and polite to everyone. And he’s always felt at home here,” added the tournament director. Other top players expected in Beijing include Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Novak Djokovic, confirming that this will be a particularly star-studded edition.

The organizers have also worked to further improve the conditions for the players. “Every year we try to offer the best to the players. For this edition, they’ll be able to stay at a new, high-end Marriott hotel, just a five-minute drive from the venue. Before, everything was more inconvenient, and it took at least 25 minutes to get there from the hotels where most of them stayed.”