Sinner targets late-December return at rescheduled Six Kings Slam ahead of Australian Open 2027
Jannik Sinner said on Tuesday he is aiming to return to competitive action before the end of December, potentially at the rescheduled Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia, as he prepares for the Australian Open 2027. He made the remarks at a sponsor event in Milan.
Sinner has been sidelined since lifting the Wimbledon title in July after defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. A right knee problem forced him to withdraw from the US Open, and persistent fitness concerns have delayed a comeback, prompting the 25-year-old to confirm last month that he would not compete again in 2026.
His extended absence has cost him the top spot in the ATP rankings; Alexander Zverev moved back to No. 1 last week, ending Sinner's 95-week reign as the world's highest-ranked player. The ranking change followed Sinner's decision to sit out the remainder of the season.
"The aim is to go to Australia, the aim is also maybe to do a couple of tournaments first," Sinner said at a sponsor event in Milan on Tuesday. "But I have to respect the protocols at the moment because if we rush things we could have more serious problems. I also only have that information, that I have to work hard every day for that objective and then we'll see."
The Six Kings Slam was postponed and has been rescheduled for the final week of December after being delayed amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "That (is the target) but we all know the situation what's there at the moment, which is not the best, so this is not our decision as players, this is a more general decision," Sinner told The Associated Press.
The exhibition does not award ATP ranking points but features substantial prize money. Sinner emerged victorious in the tournament's second edition last year and could use this year's event to regain match sharpness ahead of the new season.
Sinner reiterated that the Australian Open remains his primary objective and that a late-December return at the Six Kings Slam is under consideration, subject to the wider decisions surrounding the event's staging.