India, Sept. 25 -- World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has officially pulled out of the 2026 China Open, extending a knee-related absence that has now kept him off tour since his Wimbledon triumph in July. The defending Beijing champion confirmed his withdrawal through an emotional video message to his Chinese supporters, admitting that his recovery timeline has slipped further than hoped. The setback deepens concerns over his year-end No. 1 ranking push as rival Alexander Zverev closes the gap.

Knee Setback Continues

Sinner's right knee complaint, first flagged before the Cincinnati Masters in August, has now sidelined the Italian for over ten weeks. He previously skipped the Cincinnati Open, then withdrew from the US Open just days before the d...