Jannik Sinner's schedule for 2026 calendar year
(Courtesy : @janniksin/Twitter)
World No. 2 Sinner will defend his Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2026.
As Italy’s greatest tennis player Jannik Sinner gears up for the 2026 ATP Tour, his calendar presents a thrilling mix of high-stakes defenses, redemption opportunities, and a fierce battle to dethrone Carlos Alcaraz from the top ranking.
Fresh off a tumultuous 2025 season marred by an early three-month ban for a doping violation, stemming from inadvertent contamination via a physiotherapist’s spray, as ruled by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, Sinner missed several marquee events.
This suspension, from February to May, forced him to skip Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid, while a later one from the Canadian Open compounded his point deficits.
These gaps leave him with zero points to defend in those tournaments for 2026, turning them into golden windows for aggressive point accumulation.
Performing strongly here could propel him ahead of Alcaraz, who capitalized on Sinner’s absences last year to solidify his No. 1 status with consistent deep runs across the Masters 1000 series.
Jannik Sinner’s year kicks off with the Hyundai Super Match exhibition in South Korea on January 10, a low-pressure tune-up before the Australian Open on January 18. As the defending champion in Melbourne, where he claimed his maiden Grand Slam in 2025, Sinner faces immense pressure to deliver his best tennis.
With 2000 points on the line, any slip could widen the gap to Alcaraz, with the Spaniard vying for a calendar slam. February’s Qatar Open in Doha, offers a chance to bank 500 points, setting a strong tone for the hard-court swing.
Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to play doubles together? Here’s what they said
March and April spotlight the missed Masters: Indian Wells and Miami are clean slates for Jannik Sinner, where deep runs could yield up to 1000 points each, directly challenging Alcaraz’s dominance in the “Sunshine Double.”
The clay season ramps up with Monte Carlo and Madrid, both untapped in 2025 due to the ban, success here would not only boost his ranking but also build momentum for the Italian Open, where he defends 600 runner-up points from a gritty final loss last year.
Roland Garros demands peak clay-court prowess, with 1200 runner-up points to protect after a heartbreaking 2025 defeat. June’s grass transition includes Halle, defending a rather modest 50 points due to a fourth round exit, before Wimbledon, his second major title defense.
The summer hard-court swing sees Jannik Sinner target the Canadian Open in July, followed by Cincinnati where he defends 600 runner-up points, and the US Open with 1200 points from last year’s final at stake.
Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz tops Jannik Sinner in their rivalry in ATP 2025 season
The fall season includes title defenses at the China Open, Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals, thereby demanding for a strong finish from the Italian.
Overall, Jannik Sinner’s 2026 path is a redemption arc. The ban’s fallout and missing six key tournaments handed Alcaraz an edge, but it now gifts Sinner low-pressure entries to rack up points.
To reclaim No. 1, he’ll need flawless execution in defenses while exploiting those voids, turning adversity into a strategic surge against his Spanish nemesis.
Jannik Sinner’s schedule for 2026 calendar year
January
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10 | Hyundai Super Match, South Korea | Exhibition | Did not participate | NA |
| Jan 18 | Australian Open | Grand Slam | Champion | 2000 |
February
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16 | Qatar Open, Doha | ATP 500 | Did Not Play | 0 |
March
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 4 | Indian Wells, USA | Masters 1000 | Did Not Play | 0 |
| Mar 18 | Miami Open, USA | Masters 1000 | Did Not Play | 0 |
April
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Masters 1000 | Did Not Play | 0 |
| Apr 22 | Madrid Open, Spain | Masters 1000 | Did Not Play | 0 |
May
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Italian Open, Italy | Masters 1000 | Runner-up | 600 |
| May 24 | Roland Garros, France | Grand Slam | Runner-up | 1200 |
June
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15 | Halle Open, Germany | ATP 500 | Round of 16 | 50 |
| Jun 29 | Wimbledon, England | Grand Slam | Champion | 2000 |
July
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2 | Canadian Open, Canada | Masters 1000 | Did Not Play | 0 |
| Jul 13 | Cincinnati Open, USA | Masters 1000 | Runner-up | 600 |
| Jul 31 | US Open, USA | Grand Slam | Runner-up | 1200 |
September
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 | China Open, China | ATP 500 | Champion | 500 |
October
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 | Shanghai Masters, China | Masters 1000 | Round of 16 | 90 |
| Oct 26 | Vienna Open, Austria | ATP 500 | Champion | 500 |
November
| Date | Tournament | Level | 2025 Performance | Points to Defend 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2 | Paris Masters, France | Masters 1000 | Champion | 1000 |
| Nov 15 (If qualifies) | ATP Finals, Italy | ATP Finals | Champion | 1500 |
Note: Schedule is subject to change. Points to defend may vary slightly as per tournament points distribution changes.
What is Jannik Sinner defending in 2026?
Sinner will defend his Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, along with major titles at the China Open, Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals.
How can Jannik Sinner regain the World No. 1 ranking?
Because he has many zero-point tournaments, strong performances at events like Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid could earn him up to 4,000 ranking points, giving him a strong chance to close the gap on Carlos Alcaraz.
When does Jannik Sinner’s 2026 season begin?
He begins his season on January 10 with the Hyundai Super Match exhibition in South Korea, followed by the Australian Open starting January 18.
What are Jannik Sinner’s toughest title defenses in 2026?
The hardest defenses will be at Australian Open, Wimbledon, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals, where he holds the maximum possible points.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.