Injury Update: De Minaur Awaits Scans After Beijing Final, Rybakina and Anisimova Opt for Rest

The grueling Asian swing is forcing tennis's biggest names to make brutal, high-stakes health decisions as the 2026 finish line approaches. Following a dramatic, mid-match retirement in the China Open final, Alex de Minaur is anxiously awaiting scans on a sudden adductor issue.[3][4]

Meanwhile, on the women's tour, World No. 1 Elena Rybakina and World No. 11 Amanda Anisimova have both announced they are prioritizing recovery over the final tournaments of the year. The moves highlight a growing trend of players protecting their bodies rather than chasing late-season points.[1][2]

De Minaur's injury arrived at the worst possible moment during a stellar week in Beijing. The Australian was going blow-for-blow with Novak Djokovic in a fiercely competitive championship match, dropping a tight first-set tiebreak 7-6(3) before calling for the trainer.[3][4]

After playing one more game to go down 1-0 in the second set, de Minaur made the difficult choice to stop. It marked his first mid-match retirement on the ATP Tour in over nine years, dating back to the 2017 Sydney International.[4][5]

"Felt something in the adductor. I don't know what it is yet. I've got to get some more scans," de Minaur explained during his post-match press conference. He confirmed he will still travel to the Shanghai Masters to undergo a full medical evaluation.[3]

Despite the abrupt and painful finish to the tournament, the 27-year-old remained remarkably upbeat about his overall form. He viewed his deep run in Beijing as a massive stepping stone for the remainder of his career.[3]

"Everything except for the end was really positive," de Minaur told reporters. "There was a lot of good tennis. I played some great stuff. Felt amazing on the court. Yeah, a lot of confidence from this first week."[3]

Rybakina and Anisimova Look to 2027

On the WTA side, World No. 1 Elena Rybakina is also listening to her body after a grueling, triumphant summer. The Kazakh star officially withdrew from the upcoming Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, which serves as the final WTA 1000 event of the season.[1]

Rybakina has been managing a lingering lower leg and foot issue that previously forced her to retire in Cincinnati. She pushed through the pain to capture her third Grand Slam title at the US Open, but a second-round upset in Beijing signaled it was time to rest.[1]

"I'm very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play," Rybakina shared via an Instagram story on Sunday. "I'll take some time to rest and recover. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. See you next year."[1]

Amanda Anisimova is taking a similarly proactive approach to a recurring left wrist injury. The World No. 11 had already withdrawn from the China Open and the Singapore Tennis Open before officially shutting down her 2026 campaign on Monday afternoon.[2]

"I will be wrapping up my season for the year," Anisimova wrote in a concise social media update. "I sustained a wrist injury again, that I need to take care of. Time to get healthy, reset, and see you all in 2027."[2]

Anastasia Potapova joined the shutdown list after suffering a left knee injury during her Beijing match against Mirra Andreeva. The Russian fell awkwardly while chasing a forehand and retired down 5-3 in the second set, later confirming her season was over.[6]

The absences of Rybakina and Anisimova will reshape the upcoming WTA Finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, scheduled for November 8-15. Rybakina had been the first singles player to qualify for the prestigious year-end championship following her US Open victory.[1]

The Race to Turin Implications

For de Minaur, the adductor injury complicates a remarkably tight race for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. By capturing the Beijing title, Djokovic overtook the Australian in the live standings, pushing de Minaur down to a precarious 10th place overall.[4]

However, the qualification math remains in his favor if he can return to the court. With World No. 1 Jannik Sinner already announcing the end of his 2026 season due to a knee injury, the ninth-place spot will likely secure a ticket to Italy.[7]

The upcoming Shanghai Masters will prove pivotal for the remaining Turin contenders. If de Minaur is cleared to play following his medical scans, he faces a crucial opening test against either Alex Molcan or Federico Cina.[4]

Ultimately, this week's wave of high-profile withdrawals underscores a clear shift in professional tennis. Rather than risking chronic damage for immediate ranking points, today's top athletes are confidently hitting pause to ensure they return fully healthy for the next campaign.[1][3]