Jannik Sinner is preparing to return to competitive tennis on December 27, when the 2026 edition of the Six Kings Slam gets underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Italian world No. 2 has confirmed his participation in the prestigious exhibition tournament, marking his return to the court after several months away from competition.
Sinner is scheduled to face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, with a potential semi-final clash against Serbian star Novak Djokovic awaiting him should he progress. On the other side of the draw, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will face the winner of the quarter-final between American Taylor Fritz and Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
The Italian last competed on July 12, when he defeated Zverev in the Wimbledon final to successfully defend his title at the All England Club. However, following his triumph in London, Sinner struggled with a knee injury that prevented him from returning to official competition. He subsequently decided to end his season early in order to focus on his recovery and ensure he would be fully prepared for the upcoming campaign, which is set to begin with the Australian Open in January.
Milan Press Conference Could Bring Important Announcements
Attention is now turning to November 10, when Sinner is expected to attend an event at the Allianz Tower in Milan. The occasion could also include a press conference, offering the Italian star an opportunity to address the media publicly for the first time in several months.
There is considerable interest surrounding the future of Sinner’s coaching team, particularly following recent speculation about who will guide him in 2027. Former Swedish tennis player Magnus Norman has emerged as a possible candidate, although no official confirmation has been made. Sinner’s appearance in Milan could therefore provide an opportunity to clarify the situation and address questions about his future plans.
Six Kings Slam Organisers Confirm Sinner’s Return
Sinner had originally withdrawn from the Six Kings Slam due to injury, with American youngster Learner Tien taking his place. However, following the announcement that the tournament would be rescheduled from its original date to the end of December, the possibility of Sinner making his comeback in Riyadh began to emerge.
The competition was moved to December 27-30 amid the international situation, and speculation about the Italian’s return continued to grow. Confirmation finally arrived through a series of social media posts by Turki Alalshikh, who announced Sinner’s participation and his opening match against De Minaur.
The match will mark Sinner’s first appearance on court since his Wimbledon triumph and an important step in his preparations for the 2027 season.
Six Kings Slam 2026: Schedule and Prize Money
The 2026 Six Kings Slam will take place in Riyadh from December 27 to December 30. The tournament’s format requires a rest day between consecutive playing days, with the schedule organised as follows:
- December 27: Quarter-finals, including Sinner vs Alex de Minaur.
- December 28: Semi-finals. If Sinner wins his opening match, he will face Novak Djokovic.
- December 30: Final.
Sinner will have a particularly favourable historical record against his first opponent: he has defeated De Minaur in all 13 of their previous meetings.
The financial incentives are also substantial. Every participant is guaranteed $1.5 million simply for taking part, while the eventual winner will receive an additional $4.5 million. This means the champion will take home a total of $6 million.
With his return now confirmed, all eyes will be on Sinner’s appearance in Milan on November 10 and, above all, his physical condition ahead of the highly anticipated Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.
