A Long Road Back to the Court
Jannik Sinner has named the 2027 Australian Open as his primary comeback target after a right knee injury forced him off the tour following his Wimbledon title defense in July. Speaking at a press conference in Milan for a fan event, the 25-year-old Italian was candid about where things stand. He admitted that his medical team originally set a return timeline that proved to be "impossible," which prompted them to change course and adopt a more patient, protocol-driven approach.
Reports from Sky Sport Italy have identified the problem as iliotibial band syndrome, though Sinner himself has not publicly confirmed the specific diagnosis. What he has confirmed is that he will not compete again this season, having already missed the North American hard-court swing, the Asian swing, and the end-of-year events. With Alexander Zverev now holding the top ranking spot, Sinner acknowledged the importance of protecting his long-term health, saying he wants to continue playing competitively for another ten to fifteen years. His message was clear: patience now is the price for longevity later.
Support from Fellow Players
Sinner also touched on the emotional side of a prolonged absence, expressing genuine gratitude for the support he has received from peers including Matteo Berrettini, Jack Draper, and Carlos Alcaraz. He noted that Berrettini and Draper reached out immediately when he announced his season was finished, and that Draper, who has endured his own lengthy injury battle, connects with the mental and physical toll of extended time away from competition.
Sinner was clear that tennis is not simply a profession for him but something he genuinely loves. He hopes to squeeze in a warm-up tournament or two before Melbourne, though he stressed that rushing the process risks making things worse. TennisDraw users have already been locking in Sinner as a popular Australian Open bracket pick despite his extended absence.
