Sinner Returns to Italian Open After Doping Ban

Rome: Jannik Sinner expressed his readiness to return to the tennis court at the Italian Open following a three-month doping suspension and conveyed his happiness to be back in action.

According to Ansa News Agency, Sinner, the world number one and former US and Australian champion, shared his feelings at a press conference held at the Internationali BNL di Roma. He mentioned that although it felt strange to start again after the break, he was not afraid to compete and was pleased to be participating in the tournament. Sinner also noted the individuality of tennis, emphasizing that players have their own matters to manage, which limited his interaction with others during the disqualification period.

Sinner spoke about his communication with fellow players like British number one Jack Draper and Lorenzo Sonego, describing Draper as a great friend. Despite the lack of video calls with other players, Sinner remained optimistic, stating that with time, everything will pass. His suspension resulted from the inadvertent use of the banned steroid clostebol.

The 23-year-old South Tyrolean has set his sights on the French Open scheduled for May 25 to June 8. He aims to gauge his current performance level during his participation in Rome. Sinner clarified that his primary focus is not on defeating competitors but on advancing through the initial rounds to assess his readiness for the upcoming tournament. He added that his physical and mental state is fine, and he believes this will benefit him in the long run.