World #1 Jannik Sinner will miss this week’s Paris Masters after confirming he is battling a viral illness. The Italian, fresh from his win at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, announced his withdrawal just days before he was set to compete, reshuffling the tournament’s top seeds. With his exit, Carlos Alcaraz steps in as the top seed, and the San Candido native now faces a race to recover in time for the ATP Finals in Turin in just under two weeks.

The Italian, who arrived early in Paris to prepare, shared his disappointment with fans, saying, “I came very early here to prepare and then I fell sick. I have a virus at the moment, which is going to pass in the next two-three days, so body-wise I’m not ready to compete.” He continued, “I am very, very sorry for that. I will see you guys [in Paris] next year. Hopefully it will be a great year. This year – without me.” Initially scheduled to play either Ben Shelton or Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sinner’s spot in the draw will now be filled by Arthur Cazaux.

This is the second time Sinner has suffered from a viral infection. The first time came at Wimbledon, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in five sets in the quarterfinals and ultimately led to him missing the Paris Olympics. If he sufferes similarly this time around, his participation at the ATP Finals could be in question.

This latest development caps a remarkable season for the 23-year-old, who has had an extraordinary 2024. Known for his relentless determination, he holds a 65-6 win-loss record this year, collecting seven ATP titles, including the prestigious US Open, Australian Open, Shanghai Masters, and Cincinnati Masters. Sinner’s last ATP event saw him clinch an impressive straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final, securing his seventh title of the season. With this milestone, he secured the most titles in a single year since Andy Murray’s nine-title season in 2016.

Despite setbacks, including three losses this season to Alcaraz and ongoing concerns around a failed drugs test, Sinner’s season has been historic. The Italian now has a critical period of recovery before the ATP Finals in Turin, where he will no doubt be desperate to be part of the field on home turf.