Jannik Sinner remains uncertain for the upcoming ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai following an unconfirmed social media sighting in France and ongoing evaluations of his right knee tendonitis, gazzetta.it reported. The world number one has not played a competitive match since winning Wimbledon on July 12 against Alexander Zverev.
Sinner Visits Knee Specialist in Lyon
Speculation intensified after a fan posted a photograph of Sinner in Lyon near the Santy orthopedic center, a facility specializing in hip and knee surgery. The photograph and the fan’s social media profile were quickly deleted once the post spread online, though French media later confirmed the visit. gazzetta.it reported that Sinner consulted Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, a prominent knee specialist who works at the Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz and treats athletes from Juventus. Sources from France indicated that the specialist advised Sinner to avoid surgery and continue with conservative therapies.
Conservative Rehabilitation Across Turin and Milan
Sinner’s physical issues began shortly after his Wimbledon triumph, leading to a carefully managed recovery program. Following an initial check-up in early August with physiatrist Gianluca Melegati at Milan’s Physioclinic, the player moved his base to Turin. At J Medical and the Continassa training ground, Sinner underwent weeks of targeted physiotherapy, inflammation monitoring, and stabilization exercises. While the program initially progressed smoothly enough to target a return at the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, persistent inflammation in the right knee’s extra-articular tendons forced his team to scrap those tournament entries entirely.
Sinner Skips Tournaments to Protect Ranking Lead
By opting out of the US Open and the China Open in Beijing, Sinner and his team chose a deliberately conservative recovery track. According to sport.sky.it, Sinner is clinically healed from the tendon inflammation, but management remains cautious about match loads and court readiness. Entering the final stretch of the season, Sinner holds 1,370 ranking points over Alexander Zverev. While Zverev cannot surpass him during the Beijing tournament, the battle for the year-end ranking remains tight. Sinner is scheduled to defend 3,050 points through the remainder of the calendar, encompassing Shanghai, Vienna, Paris, and the ATP Finals in Turin, compared to 1,080 points for Zverev over the same period.
Unresolved Timeline for Shanghai and Beyond
Sinner’s immediate schedule hinges on his physical response during practice sessions in Monte-Carlo, where he has ramped up training intensity. Although he remains officially entered in the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai—which runs from October 5 to 18—his participation depends on final assessments by his coaching and medical staff. Further exhibition commitments, such as the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh scheduled for October 21 to 24, also remain under review as the world number one weighs his competitive readiness.
