ROME — The world`s top-ranked tennis player, Jannik Sinner, made his much-anticipated return to the sport at the Italian Open following a three-month doping suspension. His first practice session was met with extraordinary enthusiasm, drawing nearly 5,000 fans to the stadium on Monday, the day his ban officially ended.
The training session, which was broadcast live on local television, took place after Sinner was a central figure in a ceremony honoring the Italian teams that achieved historic victories in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup last year. Both prestigious trophies were on display, and the Campo Centrale crowd enthusiastically sang Italy`s national anthem.
This tournament marks the first time Italy has had a world No. 1 player competing in its home event. Despite the immense attention surrounding him, Sinner expressed humility. “I don`t know. Honestly, I think I`m a simple 23-year-old kid. I`m good at playing tennis, but I`m not changing the world,” he commented. He reflected on his origins, adding, “I always remember that I come from a small town of 2,000 people. Being here in Rome and playing in front of so many people is a big deal.”
The significance of his return was underscored by local media, with headlines like “Habemus Sinner,” a playful reference to the traditional announcement of a new pope (“Habemus Papam!”) – particularly noteworthy as a papal conclave was scheduled to begin just down the road at the Vatican on Wednesday.
This warm public reception stood in stark contrast to Sinner`s feelings when he received the three-month ban in February, which came as a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency. “At the start I was a bit confused because I didn`t know exactly what I wanted to do,” Sinner explained. He returned home to his family, using the time to reflect on what truly mattered. “I came to understand that what`s important to me are the people by your side. That they give you the strength to move forward and continue smiling.”
Beyond spending time with family in northern Italy, Sinner also connected with friends in Monaco, engaged in other sports like cycling, and gradually resumed tennis training. He noted the slow reintroduction, mentioning that blisters developed on his hands when they started pushing harder, something he hadn`t experienced in a long time.
The WADA settlement followed the International Tennis Integrity Agency`s decision last year to fully clear Sinner of accidental contamination from a banned substance in March 2024. The timing of the settlement, which allowed Sinner to return without missing any Grand Slams and participate in his home tournament, drew some scrutiny.
Sinner admitted the ban was initially difficult to accept, knowing the situation, but they chose the “best in a very bad moment.” He expressed relief that it`s over and he is happy to be back playing tennis.
The perception of Sinner`s penalty hasn`t been universally accepted. Some fellow professionals feel he was treated leniently. Serena Williams, for instance, was quoted by Time magazine saying she “would have gotten 20 years” and had Grand Slams taken away in a similar scenario. Sinner mentioned he had not yet seen many other players since arriving.
Sinner`s Opening Match
Jannik Sinner hasn`t played a competitive match since securing his second consecutive Australian Open title in January. After receiving a first-round bye in Rome, he is scheduled to play his opening match on Saturday. His opponent will be either the world No. 99 Mariano Navone or 18-year-old Italian wild card Federico Cinà.
The last Italian man to claim the Rome title was Adriano Panatta back in 1976.
Reflecting on his expectations for the tournament, Sinner stated they are “very, very low in general for me.” He described the intense attention as “a very strange feeling again in the beginning to be around so many people,” but concluded by saying, “it`s nice to be back.”
