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Jannik Sinner describes what his relationship is now like with other players on the Tour after his return from ban

Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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Jannik Sinner has returned to tennis with minimal fuss, brushing aside his three-month ban from the sport to instantly return to its apex.

In his absence, Carlos Alcaraz unsurprisingly dominated, hoovering up the bulk of the clay-court titles, including the French Open.

However, it was that and the Italian Open final which will have hurt the Italian more than most, given he was the player beaten in both matches.

His remarkably instant return to form deserves credit, but not all players have been so kind to this rebuttal.

Nick Kyrgios has been a vocal critic of Sinner’s since his positive doping test.

Jannik Sinner reveals the reaction from fellow players to his ban

Speaking at his press conference after cruising into the Wimbledon second round, one reporter sought to find out just how well received he had been since returning from his ban by the rest of his fellow professionals.

Asked about his relationship with other players, Jannik Sinner replied: ‘It was good. I think people have kind of forgotten already what happened. Of course, there are things, but there are so many new notifications coming in. So that’s the good and the bad of social. Something happens and people don’t know any more what happened yesterday.

‘In the other way, I have a good relationship with more or less all players like I had before. Of course, in the beginning it was a bit different; people saw me in different ways. But I think they all saw that I am a very clean player. It was never an intention to do anything bad, I always tried to be the best I can, having a good team around me, and that’s exactly what I try to do in the future.

‘The things I can control I will control, on and off the court. It was an incident, yes. It happened. But the result also says that I have not done anything on purpose, so it’s all good.’

Sinner was banned from tennis for 3 months after his Australian Open title, but has since returned with a vengeance.

Jannik Sinner’s post-ban performances have been sensational

It was expected that, after such a huge spell away from match-play, Sinner might be rusty upon his return.

After all, for most normal players, that would certainly be the case.

The world number one is far from normal though, with the gap he established at the top of the world rankings so lofty that even three months away from the sport couldn’t dethrone him.

His first tournament back came in Rome, where he was welcomed as a hero by his home fans. There, he cruised into the final, but fatigue got the better of him against Alcaraz.

Then, again impressing in Paris, what happened in that final remains inexplicable.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz embrace
Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

And now into the second round at Wimbledon too, Sinner’s physical shape must have been impeccable when he left to uphold such standards. Now truly back in the swing of things, he will be keen to re-establish his dominance by finally getting a win over his Spanish rival.