Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner said Tuesday that he is doing everything possible to return to action after a long layoff with a knee injury and come back even better than before too.
“I’m fine,” the 25-year-old said at the ‘Be Like Sinner’ event at the Allianz Tower in Milan.
“We’re doing everything we can—and more—to get back on the court as soon as possible.
“I have a great team with many experts to help us come back stronger.
“I’m following—and we’re following—all the protocols they’re giving us, and the goal is to return as soon as possible”.
Sinner has not played since retaining his Wimbledon title in July to claim the fifth Grand Slam of his career.
He has said he will make his comeback from the layoff at the end of December at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday he said he was aiming to return to full-blown competition by the time of the 2027 Australian Open.
“I hope to play a few tournaments before then, but I have to follow the protocols to avoid more serious issues,” he said.
“It’s important to take care of my body; I want to keep playing for another 10-15 years.
“I have the best doctors by my side, and I have to stick to the program they’ve given me—it’s the only option.
“We’re doing everything we can to protect my long-term career.
“It requires patience—that’s the best tool to have.
“It (the injury) is what it is; we’re working on a way forward.
“I’m starting to look at tennis in a different, more positive light. Before, everything felt natural travelling the world and winning tournaments.
“Now, I’m truly appreciating what I’ve managed to achieve.
“My desire to win is even stronger, and lifting trophies will be even more rewarding. I’ll enjoy it all a bit more.”
Sinner dropped to number two in the world rankings last week, ceding the top spot to German Alexander Zverev, following the long spell on the sidelines.
Last week he announced that he will part company with coach Darren Cahill at the end of the 2026 season, with Swede Magnus Norman, the former world number two, joining his team.
“Magnus is similar to Darren,” Sinner said on Tuesday.
“He accepts the way we’re already working; we won’t be changing our methods. It’s important not to upend everything, but instead to introduce something new each year.
“I’ll really miss the personal side of things (with Cahill).
“He’d become almost like a second father to me.
“He’s still in my contacts, and I can always give him a call”.
