Jannik Sinner has officially announced his withdrawal from the prestigious Paris Masters due to a persistent virus, a decision that came to light through a statement released by the world No. 1 on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Italian tennis sensation, who clinched victory against Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event, secured an impressive $6 million title in Saudi Arabia on October 20. Following Sinner’s exit, French player Arthur Cazaux has stepped in to take his place in the tournament draw.
In a heartfelt video message shared by the tournament organizers, Sinner expressed his disappointment: “I’m very disappointed to tell you that I am not able to play here at this tournament. I have a virus at the moment, which will pass in the next two or three days. I came here very early to prepare and then I felt sick. After the first practice session I really didn’t feel good.
“Today I feel better already a little bit, but the body is not ready to compete and I still feel very, very weak. Body-wise, I am not ready to compete. I am very sorry for that. I will see you guys [in Paris] next year. Hopefully, it will be a great year. And this year – without me. Hopefully, I’ll see you next year.”
Sinner remains hopeful that he will recover in time to participate in the ATP Finals in Turin, where he has already secured his spot among the elite eight-player lineup set to begin on November 10. This event will mark a significant moment for Sinner, as he has achieved the remarkable feat of clinching the end-of-year world No. 1 ranking. It is worth noting that last week, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic also made headlines by withdrawing from the final ATP-1000 event of the year.
Sinner’s withdrawal elevates Alcaraz to the position of the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw, setting the stage for his upcoming clash against Nicolas Jarry in the second round. Additionally, the British No. 1, Jack Draper, is set to square off against Jiri Lehecka in the first round on Tuesday afternoon.
