Jannik Sinner adds Magnus Norman to coaching team for injury comeback
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, sidelined since July with a knee injury, has hired former world No. 2 Magnus Norman to his coaching team as he targets a return at the Australian Open in January.
Jannik Sinner has brought former world No. 2 Magnus Norman into his coaching team to aid his recovery from a knee injury. The current world No. 2 has not played since winning his fifth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, and he is targeting a return at next year's Australian Open.
Sinner sidelined since Wimbledon
Sinner has been sidelined with a right knee injury since beating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final. The specific issue is iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). His prolonged absence caused him to miss the entire North American summer hard-court season and the Asian swing, and he subsequently lost the world No. 1 ranking spot to Alexander Zverev.
He confirmed in October that he would not play again in 2026. Sinner has expressed faith in his recovery process, stating he has a great team with many experts to help him return stronger.
Sinner sets long-term goals
The 25-year-old Italian has clear objectives. Sinner aims to keep playing for another 10 to 15 years. His immediate focus is on a comeback at the Australian Open in January, a tournament he won in both 2024 and 2025. He reached the semi-final there in 2026, losing to Novak Djokovic.
Jannik Sinner said: "The goal is to go to Australia, I hope to get there and perhaps play a few tournaments beforehand."
Sinner cautious in comeback
Despite his ambitions, Sinner is emphasizing a cautious approach. He stated he needs to follow protocols without rushing things to avoid setbacks. He intends to take things one step at a time, even if he plays a few tournaments early in his comeback. Sinner, who describes himself as a tennis player and not a doctor, believes injuries are part of sport and require smart decisions on how much and when to play.
He emphasizes a long-term vision over short-term results. Sinner also stated he needs to add one percent each year to continue improving as a player.
Coaching staff dynamics
The addition of Magnus Norman to Sinner's team was confirmed at a press event in Milan. Darren Cahill, Sinner's former coach of four years who was present, confirmed he was not involved in the decision to hire Norman. Cahill praised current coach Simone Vagnozzi for providing continuity in the setup.
Cahill described Norman as sharing many similarities with himself and noted Norman's long-term work with Stan Wawrinka. He also stated that 99% of Sinner's achievements are due to Sinner himself, with the coaching team contributing the final 1%. Sinner and Cahill remain close friends, with Sinner describing Cahill as a 'second dad'.
During his injury layoff, Sinner praised fellow players Jack Draper, Matteo Berrettini, and Carlos Alcaraz for their support. Draper himself has ruled out returning to competition before 2027 after a difficult period of mental fatigue following 15 months of injury recovery.
Away from tennis, Sinner congratulated Kimi Antonelli on becoming the youngest Formula 1 World Champion. He said motorsport gives him an incredible boost and described Antonelli as a normal, laid-back 20-year-old, which he relates to. Sinner's planned return to the Australian Open in January remains his primary objective.
