Pescosolido Warns Sinner: Skip Asia, Restart in Vienna

Stefano Pescosolido advised Jannik Sinner to skip the Asian swing and return only on European indoor hard courts.

"If I were Jannik, I'd skip the Asian swing,"

said the former world No. 42, now a Sky Sport analyst, in an interview with Tuttosport. The options on the table, he says, are two: "Beijing and Shanghai, or start with the indoor events."

Sinner hasn't played since his Wimbledon final win over Alexander Zverev on July 12, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4, sidelined by tendinopathy in his right knee that also cost him the US Open. The China Open in Beijing opens on September 30, with the Shanghai Masters 1000 right after. In Vienna, from October 24 to November 1, the Italian defends the title he won in 2025, also against Zverev.

Pescosolido keeps pressing on the risk of a relapse:

"The injury isn't major, but it could become one."

He points back to Shanghai 2025, when Sinner retired in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor, overwhelmed by cramps in conditions the entire locker room called extreme. Returning in Vienna, in his view, is about arriving ready for the ATP Finals in Turin.

The No. 1 ranking is also at stake. As of September 14, Sinner leads the standings with 11,500 points against Zverev's 9,690, who moved up to second after his US Open title, while in the Race the German is already ahead. Skipping Beijing and Shanghai would mean handing the rival two free weeks of Race points and giving up the 500 points from the 2025 Beijing title. Pescosolido still picks the long game: the goal, he says, is to peak in 2027.