Sports · Tennis · 1 hr ago
Sinner targets late-December return from knee injury before Australian Open
Jannik Sinner is aiming to return at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia in late December.
The 25-year-old has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July and withdrew from the US Open with a right knee injury.
Ongoing knee problems delayed his comeback, and he announced last month that his season was over.
He said he must follow recovery protocols because rushing could cause more serious problems.
The exhibition could give him matches before the Australian Open, which is his main target.
The event awards prize money but no ATP ranking points, and Sinner won it last year.
Its late-December date was set after it was postponed because of conflict in the Middle East, and Sinner said the decision on whether it goes ahead is not up to the players.
He said he will work toward returning, but has not confirmed that he will play.
Jannik Sinner plans to return from a right knee injury at an exhibition in Saudi Arabia in late December.
He hopes to use the event and possibly other tournaments to prepare for the Australian Open.
Sinner has not played since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July.
He withdrew from the US Open because of the knee injury and later said his season was over.
Sinner said he must follow medical protocols and avoid rushing his recovery.
- Who
- Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis player.
- What
- He is targeting a return at the Six Kings Slam exhibition as he prepares for the Australian Open.
- When
- The exhibition is planned for late December 2026.
- Where
- The exhibition is in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- Sinner wants matches to help prepare for the Australian Open, but says he must respect recovery protocols.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sinner beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final.
Sinner withdrew from the US Open because of a right knee injury.
Sinner announced that his season was over.
Zverev took over the No. 1 ranking that Sinner had held for 95 weeks.
Sinner is targeting a return at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
- Injury
- Right knee
- Last match
- Wimbledon final in July, against Alexander Zverev
- Target return
- Six Kings Slam, late December
- Tournament location
- Saudi Arabia
- Ranking change
- Zverev took over No. 1 after Sinner held the ranking for 95 weeks
3 sources
What people are saying
The aim is to go to Australia, the aim is also maybe to do a couple of tournaments first,
But I have to respect the protocols at the moment because if we rush things we could have more serious problems.
But I think if we want to prepare for Australia [and] I'm not playing since Wimbledon, some matches before might be very helpful.