Sinner withdraws from China Open, Djokovic returns

Defending champion Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the China Open due to a knee injury. The world number one has not played a competitive match since July's Wimbledon. He also skipped Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open before pulling out of Beijing. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic returns to the China Open after more than a decade — a tournament where his record is nearly flawless. In an ATP 500 event, the absence of a defending champion is not merely a personal matter. It changes the tournament's balance. Sinner has dominated the men's singles in Beijing for the past two years. He won the title in 2026 and repeated as champion last year. He will not get the chance to defend those points this time. Under the 52-week ranking rollover system, the 500 points from last year's title will drop off — and that is his biggest concern. Sinner himself did not hide his frustration. He said the injury has not fully healed and that he made the decision on medical advice. It is clear his body has not returned to a level required for international tennis. His playing style is itself a risk factor. He is an aggressive baseliner whose game depends on flat shots, quick first steps, and sliding into corners. A knee issue means the very foundation of his game is weakened. Questions about match fitness remain after such a long layoff — he has not played competitive tennis in more than three months. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic presents a contrasting picture. The former world number one is returning to Beijing after 11 years. His record here stands at the very top — six titles and no defeats. But the current reality tells a different story. He exited the US Open in the first round, and his ranking has now fallen to No. 12. Despite his legacy of 24 Grand Slam titles, he is no longer at that level based on recent form. Beijing's fast hard court, however, suits him — his ability to control play from the return position and redirect with his first shot remains effective. The question is — is Sinner's absence just a tournament story, or does it signal something bigger? I have watched tennis data for over a decade, and the lesson is clear: injury news never comes alone. For a player like Sinner, whose entire game relies on movement, a recurring knee problem means his ranking defense path will be much steeper in the coming season. On the other side, Djokovic's return is a story of regaining confidence in a familiar place — not merely a ranking calculation. Still, let's be honest — everyone knows he is 39 years old, but recent data shows the gap between reputation and form is now at its widest. The China Open organizers, of course, can breathe a sigh of relief. Sinner's withdrawal could have hit ticket sales and broadcast interest, but Djokovic's return will largely compensate for that loss. Djokovic's popularity in the Chinese market remains strong. Through most seasons since the mid-2010s, his presence has been a major draw for TV broadcasters. His return after 11 years is a headline-ready story for the tournament management — one that will easily cover the void left by Sinner. But data tells a different calculation. Djokovic's records, his six titles, his unbeaten track record in Beijing — these numbers belong to the past. In terms of current competition, he is now at the level of a part-time marquee attraction. The world number one has fallen to injury, and Djokovic at No. 12 is trying to regain his form. This tournament may well show whether he is truly coming back or merely going through the motions of an official return. Running from September 30 to October 6, this event is now witnessing a symbolic transition. While current king Sinner is busy rehabilitating, former king Djokovic is vying for a return to the throne. This picture contains sport's greatest truth — no one can hold the throne forever. The question is whether Sinner's knee will bring him back to that stage, or whether this layoff will change him permanently. Beijing's court will likely provide the answer through Djokovic's hands — and that is what we will be waiting to see.