Jannik Sinner returns to tennis at Six Kings Slam
Jannik Sinner will end his injury absence at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia in December, a tournament postponed from October due to security concerns following an airport attack.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has confirmed his 2026 season is over due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old sustained the right knee problem at Wimbledon in July and has not played a competitive match since winning that title. In a video post, Sinner stated he and his doctors decided on a treatment course, officially bringing his season to a premature end three weeks ago.
Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time major winner, will also participate in the Six Kings Slam. Sinner has won five major titles in his career and needs only the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. He stated he will do everything possible to return to full fitness and thanked fans for their support, hoping to see them on court again.
Six Kings Slam rescheduled for December
The Six Kings Slam, a non-ATP exhibition event in Riyadh, was postponed from its original October dates. It is now scheduled for December 27-30. The postponement followed security concerns after an attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. That attack killed 12 people and injured over 300 at Riyadh's international airport. Similar security concerns have also forced other events, like January's Dakar Rally and golf's Saudi International, out of the country or to be postponed indefinitely.
Sinner to return at Six Kings Slam
Jannik Sinner will make his competitive return at the rescheduled Six Kings Slam. His first match is set for December 27 in Riyadh. This marks his return to the court after nearly six months out. Sinner is the defending champion at the event, having won $6 million for his victory last year. He also beat Carlos Alcaraz in both of the previous finals to claim that prize.
Djokovic and top players headline field
The tournament will feature a strong field of top-ranked players. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, is a confirmed participant. He will be joined by world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who is guaranteed to finish 2026 as the ATP's year-end world number one after winning two majors this season. The field also includes Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
Sinner's participation in the December exhibition in Saudi Arabia will be his first step back toward competition.
