Jannik Sinner Nears Court Return at China Open After Two-Month Injury Layoff
World number one Jannik Sinner is set to return from a knee injury at the China Open in Beijing next week, defending four titles in a tight race with Alexander Zverev.
Jannik Sinner is nearing his return to the courts after a hiatus of more than two months. The Italian, who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July, is expected to participate in the China Open in Beijing next week, kicking off the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Return to Beijing
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sinner will fly to Beijing on Sunday to resume competition as the defending champion. The world number one also won the ATP 500 tournament last year after defeating Learner Tien in the final.
Sinner's last appearance was in the Wimbledon final, where he defeated Alexander Zverev to claim his fifth career Grand Slam title. He subsequently suffered a knee injury and was forced to miss the entire North American hard-court swing, including the US Open.
The Battle for Number One
His return in Beijing will mark the beginning of a crucial period for his ranking. Sinner is set to defend four titles by the end of the season—in Beijing, Vienna, Paris, and the ATP Finals—totalling 3,500 ranking points.
"I miss him, I miss seeing him around and playing against him. He pushes me to be a better player," Carlos Alcaraz said.
Zverev, who won the US Open, trails Sinner by fewer than 2,000 points and must defend just 1,080 points until the end of the year, setting the stage for a tight race for the world number one spot. The China Open runs from September 30 to October 6.
