Jannik Sinner’s remaining 2026 schedule is gradually becoming clearer, and the world No 1 is now confirmed for at least one stop in the Asian hard-court stretch.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has played only nine tournaments this season, with that total made up of three Grand Slams, five ATP Masters 1000 events and one ATP 500 tournament. From those nine events, Sinner has collected six titles, including a successful defence of Wimbledon and victories in his first five Masters appearances.

His run will not stretch to seven straight titles, though, after he chose to miss next week’s Canadian Open in Montreal. He will, however, return in the United States for the Cincinnati Open before the North American swing concludes with the US Open, scheduled from 30 August to 13 September in New York.

Sinner will also sit out the Laver Cup from 25-27 September in London, where many of the game’s leading players are set to compete after the season-ending Grand Slam.

His next competitive appearance after that is set for the China Open, an ATP 500 event beginning on 28 September in Beijing. It will be the Italian’s fourth appearance there. He reached the final on his previous two visits, winning the title in 2023 and 2025, while also finishing runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in 2025.

“Winning this tournament in 2023 and 2025 was fantastic and created a special bond with this event; these are unforgettable moments for me and my team,” Sinner said about his return to Beijing.

“I’m really happy to be back this year for a special edition celebrating the tournament’s twentieth anniversary: ​​a huge milestone. I’ll try to give it my all and aim to have another great week.”

Beyond Beijing, Sinner’s presence at the Shanghai Masters appears likely, with the ATP 1000 event starting the following week. He won the tournament in 2025 by beating Novak Djokovic in the final, though last year he retired in his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor because of severe cramping.

The schedule then turns back to Europe for the indoor hard-court portion of the season. Sinner is expected to defend his Vienna Open title in Austria in late October, while his participation at the Paris Masters remains uncertain. Turin in November, though, is a certainty as he targets a third ATP Finals title in succession.

The calendar also includes the Six Kings Slam, which is set for 21-24 October in Riyadh between Shanghai and the European swing. Sinner won the first two editions and will face Alcaraz, Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur for a first prize of $6 million.

Rafael Jodar is closing in on the ATP top 20 after his run to the semi-finals of the Mubadala DC Open, while Carlos Alcaraz has also picked up a brief lift in the rankings.

The Spanish teenager has made a rapid climb over the past year. Just over 12 months ago, Jodar was outside the top 500 at No 540. He closed 2025 at No 168 after a strong finish to the season, then moved into the top 100 in March this year. That progress continued when he won his first title in April and later reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, which took him into the top 30.

In Washington DC, Jodar added another notable result by beating fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals. That victory moved him five places to a career-best No 19 in the Live ATP Rankings.

“It sounds very good,” Jodar said after his 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over the Italian. “All the hard work I’m putting in the training weeks and the competition is paying off. I am always trying to give my best. I still have to learn a lot of things and I have to keep pushing.”

He added: “I didn’t start very well with Lorenzo winning the first set 6-1. “I had to reset mentally. I think I did a great job, especially in the beginning of the second set. I served very well, and it gave me the opportunity to win the second and third sets. Really happy with how I reset.”

Jodar will next meet Alejandro Tabilo, who defeated second seed Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, for a place in the final. A win would move Jodar to No 15, while a title would lift him as high as No 12.

Taylor Fritz is also through after saving a match point in a deciding tie-break to beat Alex Michelsen 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6). That result took Fritz up one spot to No 9 in the Live Rankings, and with Shelton falling two places to No 10, Fritz has returned as the American No 1.

There has also been a shift at the top of the rankings. Alexander Zverev has dropped one place, allowing Alcaraz to move back to No 2. Neither man is playing this week, but points are being removed from the 2025 Canadian Open. Zverev is losing 360 points from last year’s semi-final, while Alcaraz did not compete there in 2025.

Alcaraz now sits on 8,160 points, with Zverev on 8,120. Jannik Sinner remains firmly at No 1 with 13,450 points. Zverev still has a chance to reclaim second place at the Canadian Open, where one match win would be enough, as Alcaraz will not be in action.

Felix Auger-Aliassime will have little room for comfort as he begins his bid for an ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, where he is playing in front of home support as the No 2 seed.

With No 1 Jannik Sinner, No 3 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic all absent, the Canadian would ordinarily have looked well placed to challenge for the trophy. Instead, the draw has given him a demanding route, with Brandon Nakashima, Arthur Rinderknech, Marin Cilic and Frances Tiafoe all sitting in his quarter.

Top seed Alexander Zverev enters as the leading contender after a strong run that has already brought him his first Grand Slam title at the French Open and his first Wimbledon final. Zverev will begin against Lorenzo Sonego or Tallon Griekspoor, and Taylor Fritz could be waiting in the quarter-finals if both progress as expected.

Pressure will also rest on Ben Shelton, who must defend both his title and the 1,000 ranking points he earned with the biggest win of his career last year. Shelton may meet Jenson Brooksby in the second round, while Joao Fonseca is also in his section.

The absence of Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic has again prompted debate over whether the leading players should be required to appear at Masters 1000 events. Tournament director Valerie Tetreault acknowledged the disappointment, saying: “We are obviously very disappointed that Jannik and Novak won’t be joining us in Montreal this year, especially after they also withdrew from last year’s tournament in Toronto,”

She added: “We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players’ health must remain the priority.

“That said, we believe the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in the last few years raises a broader issue for our sport.

“Masters 1000 events are among the flagship tournaments on the tour, and fans rightfully expect to see the world’s best compete.

“We are already in discussions with the ATP to ensure this matter receives serious consideration.”

Possible quarter-final line-up in Montreal:

Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Taylor Fritz (USA)

Daniil Medvedev vs Ben Shelton (USA)

Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs Jiri Lehecka (CZE)

Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs Flavio Cobolli (ITA)