"I want to keep playing for another 10 to 15 years": Jannik Sinner trusting the doctors in return to action with long-term in mind, sets Australian Open target
ATP
Jannik Sinner's goal will be to play in Australia and get a few tournaments in before he takes to the court to play at the Australian Open at the end of January.
Sinner has not played since he won Wimbledon in July and will miss the ATP Finals on home soil this month in Turin, but he will stage a seemingly smaller time return when he takes to the court to play in the Six Kings Slam before he then heads to Australia over the festive period with a new coach in tow, Magnus Norman.
Sinner trusting science and a future demand to stay at the top
The former World No. 1 spoke during a press conference as an Allianz ambassador alongside his departing long-time coach Darren Cahill and said that he wants to play for another decade or more, so he is trusting judgement from doctors and his body before he tries to come back.
"The goal is to go to Australia; I hope to get there and perhaps play a few tournaments beforehand," Sinner said at a press conference in Milan.
"Right now, I need to follow the protocols without rushing things. I have a lot of faith in the process, and I'm working toward that objective.
"Initially, we had an impossible goal for my return in mind, so we took a different path. I'm a tennis player, not a doctor, so my only option is to trust them.
🥕 SINNER ❤️ CAHILL 🗣️ Durante una lunga conferenza stampa, l’ex N.1 del mondo ha spiegato la scelta di Magnus Norman come nuovo allenatore. L’ex coach di Wawrinka prenderà il posto di Cahill, che ha lasciato un segno indelebile nella carriera di Jannik 🥹 «Magnus deve plasmare il suo rapporto con la squadra, come ho fatto io tempo fa. È importante che ci sia anche Vagnozzi nel team per dare continuità. Non ho fatto parte della scelta. Ho un enorme rispetto per Magnus: è in grado di migliorare ogni giocatore che allena» 🎤 🎾 #Tennis #Sinner #Cahill #Norman #WeAreTennis
— We Are Tennis Italia (@WeAreTennisITA) November 10, 2026
"I miss playing tennis. Right now, however, it is crucial that I take care of my body, because I want to keep playing for another 10 to 15 years."
Speaking about their partnership and the effect of it, Cahill, who will retire after a long and illustrious career, spoke about what makes the difference in coaching a player.
"You have to ask yourself a lot of questions to get inside the mind of the player you're coaching -- that's how you earn his trust," Cahill said. "We've built and shaped an incredible team, but 99% of what's been achieved is down to him.
"He's the one who goes out onto the court. Everyone else contributes the final 1%, and that's what makes the difference."
Magnus Norman awaits for Sinner
He will be replaced by Magnus Norman, and Sinner touched upon what he will bring to the make-up of his team now that Cahill departs, but with Simone Vagnozzi staying. Stan Wawrinka spoke this week also saying he believes it's a great choice.
"He worked with (Stan) Wawrinka for many years and has been through a lot," Sinner said. "He accepts the way we are already working, which is important to me so that I don't have to change everything all over again. I need to add 1% each year to improve as a player."
But while Cahill was not actually involved in the hiring process when it came to Norman, he said he has previously given the former coach of Stan Wawrinka high praise and also believes that having Simone Vagnozzi there as continuity will massively help his cause.
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"There's a tweet I wrote back in 2013 about how Norman has the ability to improve every player he coaches," he said. "It's important that (coach) Simone Vagnozzi is there to provide continuity.
"I wasn't involved in the selection process, but I believe it's an excellent choice."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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