Jannik Sinner’s friend and rival, Lorenzo Musetti, has given an update on the world No. 2’s plans after retiring from the Shanghai Masters. Defending champion Sinner sparked huge concern when he threw in the towel during his third-round match on Sunday, cramping so badly that he could barely walk.
The four-time Major winner has yet to speak out about his latest setback, and his schedule now remains up in the air, with the Six Kings Slam exhibition just days away. But Musetti has now shared some promising news after checking in with Sinner’s coach, Simone Vagnozzi.
While Sinner has reportedly already left Shanghai, Musetti believes he’ll be ready to return to action at next week’s lucrative exhibition event in Saudi Arabia before heading to Vienna.
“I haven’t heard from Sinner since he withdrew due to cramps. I saw Simone this morning at breakfast and he didn’t seem at all worried,” the world No. 9 told Ubitennis.
“He told me that Jannik had already left. I imagine we’ll see him at the Six King Slam, and then we’ll meet again at the 500 in Vienna.”
The Six Kings Slam takes place on October 15, 16 and 18 in Riyadh. Last year, Sinner banked £4.5m as he was crowned the inaugural champion of the event.
Sinner is then entered into the Vienna Open on October 20 and the Paris Masters the following week. He has qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin, which will take place from November 9 to 16.
The world No. 2 is also set to represent Italy at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna from November 18. Sinner helped Italy win the World Cup of men’s tennis in 2023 and 2024.
Musetti is also expected to join Sinner on the strong Italian team. For now, the world No. 9 is focused on his Shanghai Masters campaign, as just one of three top-10 men left in the draw.
With Sinner’s retirement, plus some shock losses and some withdrawals from fellow players, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, and Musetti are the last top-10 stars standing in Shanghai.
Musetti, who takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round, knows he must be careful to avoid the same fate as Sinner. The brutally hot and humid conditions have caused chaos at the Shanghai Masters, with six other men also retiring from the tournament, while plenty of players have been forced to call the doctor while feeling faint on the court.
“The conditions in Shanghai are extreme, you have to be careful, stay hydrated,” Musetti explained.
“In the last few days the heat and humidity have affected matches and led to many withdrawals. I feel very good, having some ‘off’ days allows you to better manage your daily routine.”