Sinner ends his season: what changes for Turin and the No. 1 race

Jannik Sinner will miss the rest of the tennis season, leaving November’s ATP Finals in Turin without their two-time defending champion and giving rivals an opening in the contest to finish 2026 as world No. 1. The Italian announced on October 6 that he and his doctors had decided he needed further knee treatment. Reuters and The Associated Press separately reported the decision.

The announcement ends the possibility of an autumn comeback; his absence began much earlier. Sinner’s last match was his Wimbledon final victory over Alexander Zverev on July 12. He has since missed the North American hardcourt tournaments, including the US Open, and the Asian swing. His withdrawal now extends through the European indoor events and the season finale. Reuters

His management team attributed the treatment to knee inflammation and said its timing was intended to allow recovery before preparations for 2027. Sinner said he was thinking about his long-term career. That is a treatment plan and an ambition to recover, without a confirmed return date. AP

For Turin, the sporting loss is substantial. Sinner became the first player to qualify for this year’s Finals on July 10, when he reached the Wimbledon final. His place was secure before he lifted that trophy two days later. At the time, ATP reported that he had won his previous 10 matches at the Finals without dropping a set. He will now miss the chance to defend his title at the November 15–22 event. ATP’s July qualification report

That sequence makes a useful distinction visible: earning a place, holding a ranking and being able to compete are separate things.

The difference was visible in ATP’s September 13 report. After winning the US Open, Zverev led the Race with 8,650 points to Sinner’s 7,950—a 700-point advantage. Yet Zverev was still world No. 2, trailing Sinner by 1,810 ranking points. These figures describe the position in September.

The same report said Sinner was due to lose 3,550 ranking points over the remainder of the season, compared with 1,080 for Zverev. Earlier results stop counting while active rivals can add new points. A player need not lose another match to lose ground: some of the victories supporting his ranking can expire. ATP

With Sinner no longer competing in 2026, he cannot counter rivals’ new results on court. His withdrawal improves Zverev’s opportunity to reach No. 1, but does not by itself establish that the German has secured the year-end title. Reuters

The loss also reaches team tennis. Sinner will miss the Davis Cup Final 8, AP reports. Italy, the host and three-time defending champion, must pursue a fourth consecutive title without him. AP