Sinner Withdraws From Shanghai Masters 2026

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Shanghai Masters on October 3, 2026, writing on Instagram: "Unfortunately I won't be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped." The right knee problem that has kept him off the tour since his Wimbledon title in July meant he missed the whole Asian swing: he had already pulled out of the China Open in Beijing, where he was the defending champion. The Shanghai event ran October 7 to 18.

Update, November 2, 2026: On October 6, Sinner announced that "the 2026 season is officially over" because of knee inflammation, so he also missed the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Final 8 (AP). Alexander Zverev clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking on October 12 and replaced Sinner at No. 1 in the rankings of November 2.

What Happened

Sinner has not played a match since he beat Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July. Over the summer he withdrew from Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open. In late September he also pulled out of Beijing, saying: "My knee is not where I would like it to be." Shanghai was the next to go, with no date given for his return.

The Numbers Behind the Absences

• Last match: the Wimbledon final in July 2026, which he won.
• Events missed since then: Montreal, Cincinnati, the US Open, Beijing and Shanghai, and then the rest of the season.
• The US Open was the first Grand Slam he had missed since his major debut at the 2019 US Open (AP).
• Shanghai went ahead with Zverev as top seed. Carlos Alcaraz played and lost to Zizou Bergs in the third round on October 12.

What It Means for the Year-End No. 1 Race

Every event Sinner missed was a chance for Zverev to close the gap. Zverev, who won Roland-Garros and the US Open in 2026 and clinched the Laver Cup for Team Europe in September, took the year-end No. 1 ranking on October 12. Alcaraz, back on tour since the US Open after the wrist injury that cost him Roland-Garros 2026, was No. 3.

Why It Matters for Roland-Garros 2027

A knee problem that lasts from July to the end of the season raises fair questions about Sinner's preparation for the 2027 clay swing. His Paris record is strong: he reached the semifinals in 2024 and the final in 2025, which he lost to Alcaraz after holding three match points. In 2026 he lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo after feeling dizzy in the heat. See how the field is shaping up in our 2027 player entry list and early Roland-Garros 2027 odds, and read about Zverev's Laver Cup clincher in our recap of Team Europe's win.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

Roland-Garros 2027 runs May 17 to June 6, 2027. Single tickets are sold only on tickets.rolandgarros.com, and the 2027 sale dates had not been published as of November 2, 2026. GoalTickets, the independent resale marketplace that runs this site, lists resale tickets, usually above face value. See our champions history page and player profiles.

Sources: Al Jazeera and NBC Sports (Shanghai withdrawal, October 3, 2026), Tennis Majors (Beijing withdrawal), AP (season over, October 6, 2026, and US Open withdrawal), ATP rankings (November 2, 2026). Checked November 2, 2026.