Jannik Sinner, painful withdrawal: “I’m not ready for Beijing”

Jannik Sinner will not be participating in the Beijing tournament. The world No. 1 announced his withdrawal in a post on his official X profile, explaining that he is not yet ready to return to the court.

““I’m sorry to announce that I won’t be able to make it; I’m not ready to play yet. I’ll miss the tournament, the fans, and the atmosphere. I’ve had some great moments in Beijing in the past,” Sinner wrote.

The Italian player will therefore not be able to defend the title he won in 2025, but he has already promised to return for the next edition: “I’m sorry I can’t defend the title I won in 2025, but I’ll be there next year. I hope all the Chinese fans get to enjoy a great tournament.”

Always discreet on this subject, Laila Hasanovic has now spoken publicly for the first time about her year-and-a-half-long relationship with the South Tyrolean. In an interview with the Danish edition of Elle—which chose her as its cover model—she described what it’s like to be in a relationship with the world’s number-one tennis player.

Hasanovic explained first and foremost that the most complicated aspect of their relationship is linked precisely to the fame surrounding the Italian champion. “‘It’s a new reality,’ admitted the 25-year-old model—currently a star of Milan Fashion Week—referring to the media attention that accompanies every appearance she makes alongside Sinner.

Away from the spotlight, however, the model describes a daily life very different from what the public imagines. “Fortunately, Jannik and I have managed to carve out our own space, where we can be 100 percent ourselves. We’re a completely normal couple.” According to Laila, it is precisely this normality that represents one of the strengths of their bond. “Our relationship works because it’s stable and, as much as possible, lived away from the hype.”

The couple divides their time between Monte Carlo—where Sinner has a home and trains between tournaments—and Copenhagen, where Hasanovic lives, but the distance isn’t seen as an insurmountable problem. “We’ve learned to live with this aspect, given our constant commitments. And besides, even if I moved to Monte Carlo tomorrow, we’d still be in a long-distance relationship, because Jannik is busy with tournaments almost all year round.”