Jannik Sinner has been warned about a possible frosty reception when he returns from tennis.
Sinner is currently serving a three-month ban after testing positive for clostebol on two separate occasions in 2024.
The Italian’s suspension ends on May 4, meaning he will be eligible to return at the Italian Open, his home tournament.
This also means she will not miss a Grand Slam, and Sinner can play at the French Open, which commences on May 26.
Jannik Sinner may receive a polarising response from his fellow players after returning from suspension
When the news of Sinner’s ban broke, the tennis world was divided in their response.
The likes of Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka criticised the decision to suspend the World number one for just three months, while players such as Casper Ruud and his compatriots Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Sonego supported Sinner.
There was certainly a polarising response to the ban from fans, while many former players have also had their say on the matter.
BBC Sport reported that Sinner should be ready for any form of negative reaction when he rejoins the tour, and his lawyer Jamie Singer expects him to do so.
“Jannik is a very resilient young man, and in his own mind he knows he’s done absolutely nothing wrong and the process has been absolutely by the book. So I think he’s very comfortable in himself,” Singer told BBC Sport.
“He keeps off social media where there are an awful lot of people with a platform, and who don’t necessarily know the facts of the case, or investigate the facts of the case as much as they might do.”
How will Jannik Sinner be received by the fans after his ban has ended?
Sinner’s suspension ends on May 4, and the Italian Open is set to commence just three days later on May 7.
Sinner missed the tournament in 2024 due to injury, and he is likely to receive a raucous reception with thunderous cheers should he make an appearance at the Foro Italico.
Italian journalist Daniele Verri told BBC Sport: “Most tennis fans here think the ban is absurd and are still supporting him. ‘Sinner-mania’ has not wavered.”
According to Wada rules, Sinner will be allowed to resume ‘official training activity’, three weeks before his ban is set to end.
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