Stefanos Tsitsipas Pulls Out of Shanghai Tennis Tournament Ahead of First Match
Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas has withdrawn from the Rolex Shanghai Masters due to a leg injury, organizers confirmed on Saturday. The world No. 25 was scheduled to play Czech qualifier Nuno Borges in the final match on Grandstand 2, but pulled out shortly before the game.
The development is another unfortunate setback for the 27-year-old, whose 2025 season has been hampered by recurring physical problems. Tsitsipas has had to deal with persistent back pain for much of the year, and although his team clarified that the latest injury is unrelated, they described it as serious enough to prevent him from competing. No further details were given about the nature or extent of the leg issue.
What will happen after Tsitsipas’ withdrawal?
Australian Aleksandar Vukic has been drafted into the main draw as Tsitsipas’ replacement. The 29-year-old from Sydney, ranked just outside the world’s top 60, will now face Svrcina for a place in the second round. Vukic has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the ATP Tour, having reached his first ATP final earlier in 2023 and secured several notable victories over higher-ranked players.
The withdrawal is a disappointment for both Tsitsipas and his fans, as well as for tournament organizers. The Greek player has been a crowd favorite in Shanghai since reaching the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 event in 2019. He had arrived in China hoping to rebuild momentum after a difficult stretch on the North American hard courts.
The performance of Tsitsipas lately has been mixed. He began his Cincinnati campaign with a solid win before falling in the round of 32 to France’s Benjamin Bonzi. At the US Open, he exited in the second round following a defeat to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. Currently ranked No. 25, the former world No. 3 has struggled to find consistency as injuries continue to interrupt his rhythm and set him back.
For Vukic, Tsitsipas’ withdrawal is a valuable opportunity to earn ranking points and gain experience in a major Masters 1000 event. With Tsitsipas out, the tournament’s draw has been reshuffled, with the updated order of play now listing Nuno Borges against lucky loser Aleksandar Vukic.
The Rolex Shanghai Masters continues through next week and concludes on October 12. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is also there, offering top-class spectacle to his numerous supporters. However, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz withdrew earlier due to a left-ankle injury, much to the fans’ disappointment.
Tsitsipas’s recovery timeline remains unclear, and his team has not indicated whether he will compete again this season.
Business Wire
No comments