Jannik Sinner has already shifted into gear for the 2026 tennis season, beginning his training block in Dubai. Still, even during this intense pre-season phase, the world No. 2 took a brief pause from his routine to enjoy a different kind of sporting spectacle. Over the weekend, Sinner traveled to Abu Dhabi, where he attended the final race of the Formula 1 World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The 24-year-old star from Sesto Pusteria wasn’t alone for the occasion. He was joined by his girlfriend, Laila Hasanovic, along with several family members and key figures from his coaching team. The group used the F1 weekend as a short but welcome breather before Sinner returns to his heavy training schedule in preparation for the upcoming year. With the new season approaching, the Italian sensation is gearing up for what could be another historic run. At the forefront of his goals is securing a third consecutive Australian Open title—an accomplishment that would reaffirm his status as the dominant force at Melbourne Park.
Sinner wrapped up the 2025 season in superb fashion. He defended his title at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, claiming the prestigious trophy for the second year running. This strong finish also allowed him to inch even closer to his primary rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in the ATP rankings. Sinner now trails the 22-year-old Spaniard by only 550 points, positioning himself well for a potential return to the top ranking early in 2026. The Italian will have a major opportunity to regain the No. 1 spot beginning in February, especially since his 2025 campaign had been disrupted by a contentious WADA ban that kept him off the tour until May.
Before turning his full attention to the Happy Slam—which officially begins on Sunday, January 18—Sinner will appear in a pair of high-profile exhibition matches. His first will take place on January 10 in Seoul, where he will go head-to-head once again with Alcaraz. Then, on January 16, just two days before the Australian Open gets underway, he is scheduled to play an exhibition match in Melbourne against Canadian standout Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Sinner has opted to follow the same early-season strategy he has used over the past two years: skipping traditional lead-up tournaments and relying instead on targeted training sessions and a few select exhibitions. While attending the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he confirmed this approach in comments to Sky Sports, explaining that he prefers to spend the weeks before Melbourne focusing on preparation rather than competition.
“Next tournament, Australian Open middle of January. So we have some time off, time to practice and try to get ready for next year,” he told reporters.
The method has certainly worked for him so far. Remarkably, Sinner has reached the final in each of the last five Grand Slam events he has contested. His most recent defeat before the title match dates all the way back to Wimbledon 2024—an astonishing streak that underscores his consistency, confidence, and maturity on the biggest stages. With his training underway and his motivation seemingly higher than ever, all eyes will now turn to Melbourne to see whether he can extend his Grand Slam dominance into 2026.
Leave a Reply