Jannik Sinner: Clues About His Path Back to Beijing
Jannik Sinner has finally picked up his racket again, but his participation in the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing remains somewhat uncertain. After his well-known knee problems and treatment at J Medical in Turin, the South Tyrolean has moved to Monaco to continue his rehabilitation. And while progress is tangible, his staff remains cautious. In fact, the plan is to avoid rushing things out of an eagerness to return to the court too soon: the goal is to prevent dangerous setbacks, especially given Alexander Zverev’s rise toward the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. The Sesto Pusteria champion’s entry into the China Open is already a reality, though his actual participation has yet to be confirmed in writing.
Meanwhile, the draw for the China Open—scheduled for September 30 through October 6—promises to be of the highest caliber. Among the most formidable opponents Sinner might face in Beijing is, of course, Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 seed, fresh off his US Open victory and increasingly determined to challenge the South Tyrolean’s top ranking. But he’s not the only one: the entry list also includes Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, and fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli, who has recently proven he can compete at the very highest levels.
Adding even more excitement to the event is the announcement by Novak Djokovic, who confirmed his participation in the China Open with an unequivocal message: “I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be returning to play in Beijing after so many years. I’m thrilled to return to play in front of all of you at the National Tennis Center, one of the most beautiful venues in the world of tennis.” For the Serbian, this marks a return to the Chinese capital since his last appearance in 2015, and his record there is simply impressive: in six appearances at the tournament, Djokovic has never lost a single match, racking up 29 wins out of 29 and six titles. It’s worth noting, however, that the defending champion of the China Open is Sinner himself, who defeated Learner Tien in last year’s final.
On the ranking front, the pressure on Sinner is set to increase in the coming weeks. Zverev, who has already won two Grand Slams in 2026, could arrive at the ATP Finals in Turin—scheduled for November 15–22—with a real chance of being crowned the new world No. 1. This scenario closely mirrors what happened in last year’s tournament, when Carlos Alcaraz challenged the South Tyrolean for the world No. 1 ranking right up to the very end. Alcaraz himself—now back on the court after a long hiatus due to a wrist injury—could emerge as the dark horse in this race for the top spot.
In addition to the China Open, Sinner’s schedule for the final stretch of the season includes the Shanghai Masters 1000 and the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, before returning to Europe for the ATP 500 in Vienna and the ATP Finals in Turin. It’s a packed schedule, which also leaves the Davis Cup chapter open: the tournament is scheduled to take place in Bologna from November 24 to 29, and Sinner—following his controversial withdrawal last season—could once again don the Italian national team jersey, although the risk of excessive strain on his knee could once again weigh on his final decision.
