“I had my tonsils removed some weeks ago" - Jannik Sinner admits he is 'not even close' to returning as he opens up on injury nightmare and sudden weight loss

Jannik Sinner has not competed in a tennis match since defending his Wimbledon title. When fit and playing, he was majestic, losing just three matches in 2026. However, the second part of his season has seen him fall away from the spotlight due to a knee injury causing havoc. As he continues to have checks and work his way back to full fitness, he opened up about other events going on away from the court, including a sudden weight loss.

In episode three of Jannik Sinner Unfiltered, it focused on the recovery that the five-time Grand Slam champion was enduring. The video began with Sinner making a trip to the southern French city of Lyon.

"We flew to Lyon today," Sinner began. "Tomorrow, we're going to have some checks on the knee, and we'll see what the doctor says. Hopefully, we'll get some good news."

He divulged this more. "Good news would mean that in a few weeks we can load it fully and prepare properly for Australia. That would be awesome. But I've had days when I felt nothing and could play without any problems, and then I've had days when I couldn't move at all. It's very strange.

"Tomorrow, we'll have a check-up. I have my doctor here as well, along with part of the team, and then we'll see how it goes."

Sinner was then filmed getting the necessary checks. He has been through these routines numerous times now, going all the way back to the aftermath of Roland Garros when he was in and out of numerous hospitals around Italy as he and his team tried to put their finger on that sudden collapse against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Constantly working that knee area, Sinner has been forced to get to grips with life away from the courts. It is a tough pill to swallow, but one necessary ahead of his return to the sport in the near future, not wanting to aggravate it anymore.

“The worst part for me about this injury is that I cannot compete. I cannot play tennis,” he commented. “Also, my life outside tennis is a bit more limited because I cannot do things that I really like. I want to protect the knee in the best possible way.”

The ATP Finals commence this Sunday. The Italian is the two-time reigning champion and has appeared in the last three finals in the tournament. He will be feeling miserable watching his closest rivals take to the court in Turin while he gazes from afar, hapless in his botched title defence.

“I'm not going to lie, it's also tough to see other players competing when I cannot. Especially because of the season I've had. It was an incredible season until the moment when everything happened. It switched from a very, very positive season to a very tough ending, even though I had a lot of success.”

However, he is sticking to the process. Still only 25, there will be so many more opportunities for him to win back his crown. “The long game, the long-term game, is way more important than winning right now. Not being able to put myself in a position to compete is really tough.”

This involves gaining back the muscle he has lost, putting a temporary timeframe on it. “I've lost a lot of weight and a lot of muscle, so we cannot push things right now. Ideally, it would be in one month, but again, we need to check.”

Umberto Ferrara returned to Sinner’s team halfway through 2025 after that doping suspension. He has been scrutinised since by many, but Sinner seems to trust him and has been relying heavily on him as he works his way back to full strength.

“The approach we have always taken throughout our collaboration with Jannik is never to work towards an immediate goal,” the Italian said. “We always have a medium-to-long-term vision. We want to make sure that, when he returns, he does so at the peak of his physical capabilities.”

All of that has to be taken with the ultimate goal. “Of course, we don't want to jeopardise what is ultimately our goal: for him to play for as long as possible and enjoy the longest career possible.”

Another familiar face with Sinner was Darren Cahill. This is going to become a rare sight with the Aussie set to head into retirement after a productive four-year partnership with Sinner. He agreed to carry on into 2026, and it has unfortunately not ended the way he would have wanted, but their success together will be a long-lasting memory.

He stressed that there are positives to this layoff. It is a chance for Sinner to switch off from the sport he loves, getting to do some other things. “You have to make sure that when you return to your work, your rehabilitation and eventually tennis, you're 100% ready. You're always 100% committed to your career, but you also need to give yourself some mental breaks,” Cahill stated.

“Being 25 years old, going out, having some fun, meeting people and doing things outside the sport is important as well. As long as it doesn't set your knee back, mentally it can give you a great break.”

Back in Monaco, Sinner opens up about another event which recently occurred in his life. “I had my tonsils removed some weeks ago, and I lost a lot of weight. Maybe you can see it in my face; it's quite dry,” he unveiled.

“We've done everything now to try to get back even stronger than before, and hopefully this was the right decision.”

Everything he is doing is to get back to the court. A target date of 2027 Down Under is his ultimate goal, but time will soon start to run thin as he eyes a third Australian Open title to commence his next ATP campaign.

“It makes it even more special because I miss it so much already. I'm not even close to getting back on court and playing tennis yet. Hopefully, when I can go on court and practise for a week or so, I'll feel okay and things will be getting better. I think the feelings will also come back, and I'll have a good mindset again. When I start playing again in Australia, in front of the fans, I think it will be beautiful.”