Jannik Sinner eyes Australian Open 2027 return after knee injury
Jannik Sinner said at a press conference for the "Be Like Sinner" event in Milan on November 10 that he is aiming to return for the 2027 Australian Open but will not rush his recovery from the knee problem that ended his 2026 season. The 25-year-old, speaking in his role as an Allianz Global Brand Ambassador, said he feels confident about the timeline while prioritising his long-term health.
Sinner has been sidelined since winning his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July and missed the North American hard-court swing, withdrew from the US Open and skipped the Asian swing because of the issue in his right knee. Sky Sport Italy reported that iliotibial band syndrome is the underlying cause, a condition that led him to conclude his 2026 campaign prematurely.
Discussing his timetable, Sinner said: “The goal is to go to Australia,” and added he hopes to play a few tournaments before the Grand Slam to regain match rhythm after a lengthy layoff. He said some matches beforehand could be very helpful for his return to competitive play.
Sinner acknowledged his comeback plan has been altered from the team’s initial, more ambitious aim, saying they changed course after reassessing the situation. He stressed the need to follow medical protocols and warned that rushing could cause more serious problems, noting he is not a doctor and must trust the experts around him.
In a remark quoted during the Milan appearance, Sinner said: "I miss competing, walking onto the court and giving 100%. I miss doing what I love, which is playing tennis. Right now, it's very important for me to take care…" He also stated plainly, "I miss playing tennis," while emphasising that looking after his body comes first so he can continue his career long term.
Sinner indicated his first match back would probably be at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia in late December, while noting the Riyadh event was postponed because of a conflict in the Middle East. He said that staging would likely serve as an initial step before competitive tournaments.
There have been changes in his coaching set-up: Darren Cahill stepped down last week after four years working with Sinner, and Magnus Norman has joined the team to work alongside Simone Vagnozzi, who began coaching Sinner in 2022.
Sinner’s 2026 season featured significant achievements before the injury interruption: he won the Italian Open, claimed a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title, extended a winning streak to 30 matches before losing to Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in the second round of the 2026 French Open, and became only the second player in the Open Era to complete the Career Golden Masters.
Sinner remains focused on returning for the 2027 Australian Open and has said he hopes to contest several lead-up tournaments as part of his preparation, with the Six Kings Slam in late December likely to be his first match back if scheduling and his recovery permit.
