Jannik Sinner on his comeback aim and long-term goal.
Richard PagliaroNovember 10, 20263 minute read
By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Photo credit: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport
Jannik Sinner targets a competitive comeback at the Happy Slam.
The 25-year-old Sinner said he’s progressing in rehabbing the right knee injury that has sidelined since he successfully defended Wimbledon. In a press conference in Milan today, Sinner said he hopes to return to action at the 2027 Australian Open in January and possibly play warm-up events before the Melbourne major.
“The goal is to go to Australia. I hope to get there and perhaps play a few tournaments beforehand,” Sinner told the media in Milan during a press conference promoting his role as an Allianz Global Brand Ambassador.
“Right now, I need to follow the protocols without rushing things. I have a lot of faith in the process, and I’m working toward that objective.”
Last May, home hero Sinner swept Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to capture his maiden Rome championship, record sixth straight Masters 1000 crown and send Foro Italico fans into a sing-song tribute chant of “Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Sinner! Sinner!”
In Rome, Sinner scored his record-extending 34th consecutive Masters 1000 match victory hitting his way into history. Sinner joined Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic as just the second man in Open Era history to complete the Golden Masters—winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 championships—and he’s the only man to sweep six in a row at the 1000 level. Sinner went on to defeat Alexander Zverev to successfully defend his Wimbledon crown.
Sinner hopes extended treatment of his right knee issue will help him prepare for the start of the 2027 season. Sinner won the 2024 and 2025 Australian Open titles before bowing to Novak Djokovic at the Melbourne major in January. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the AO final becoming the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
Two-time ATP Finals champion Sinner said he’s patient with the rehab process because he has the big picture in mind: Playing “another 10 to 15 years.”
“Initially, we had an impossible goal for my return in mind, so we took a different path,” Sinner said. “I’m a tennis player, not a doctor, so my only option is to trust them.
“I miss playing tennis. Right now, however, it is crucial that I take care of my body, because I want to keep playing for another 10 to 15 years.”
Journalist Gabriele Parpiglia reports Sinner is suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndrome above his right knee, a condition common in distance runners, Johns Hopkins reports.
“The trouble arises right above [Sinner’s] knee. There the band passes over a protrusion of the femur, the lateral epicondyle,” Corriere dello Sport reports. “Every time the knee bends and stretches, it slides over it, until the tissues between the fascia and the bone become inflamed. And that’s why we talk about “extra-articular”: the damage is not inside the knee. [It] is out[side]. On the external side.”
Sinner, who pulled the plug on his season last month, concluded 2026 with a 44-3 record and six tournament titles.
