Jannik Sinner is targeting a comeback at the end of December, keeping the 2027 Australian Open in the spotlight

Jannik Sinner (Image: REUTERS) Jannik Sinner is targeting a return to competitive tennis at the end of December as he steps up his recovery from an ongoing knee injury, with the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia looming as a possible first stop before the 2027 Australian Open.The Italian, who has been sidelined since winning Wimbledon in July, offered an update on his recovery at an event in Milan on Tuesday. Although he wants to return to the court before the new season, Sinner has made it clear that he will not rush the process at the risk of aggravating his injury.“The goal is to go to Australia, the goal is also to maybe play a few tournaments first. But at the moment I have to respect the protocols because if we rush things, we could have more serious problems,” Sinner said.“Also, I only have the information that I have to work hard every day for that goal and then we will see.”

The Six Kings Slam could mark Sinner’s return

The rescheduled Six Kings Slam in Riyadh is among the events Sinner is targeting as he looks to regain fitness ahead of the Australian Open. The exhibition tournament, originally scheduled for October, was moved to December 27-30 due to security concerns in the Middle East. Sinner acknowledged that action remains a possibility rather than a certainty, with the broader situation in the region also playing a role in the decision.“That (is the goal) but we all know what the situation is at the moment which is not the best, so this is not our decision as players, this is a more general decision,” he said.The Italian added that playing some matches before traveling to Australia could be beneficial given that he has not competed since Wimbledon.“But I think if we want to prepare for Australia (and I haven’t played since Wimbledon), some matches beforehand could be very useful,” he added.The Six Kings Slam does not offer ATP ranking points, but it brings together some of the biggest names in men’s tennis. Sinner won the previous edition and is expected to appear alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.

A knee injury ended Sinner’s 2026 season early

Sinner’s last appearance was in the Wimbledon final in July, where he defeated Alexander Zverev to claim his fifth career Grand Slam title. However, a problem with his right knee subsequently forced him to miss several tournaments, including the US Open.A long recovery eventually led the 25-year-old to announce in October that he would no longer compete in the 2026 ATP season. His extended absence also saw him lose the world number one when Zverev took over the top spot last week after Sinner’s 95-week reign.Sinner reiterated that his priority is to return fully fit rather than risk failure by returning early. With the Australian Open scheduled for January, a late December target could offer him the chance to gain valuable match practice ahead of the first Grand Slam in 2027.