Jannik Sinner is having ‘doubts’ ahead of his second match at the Italian Open after beating Mariano Navone

Follow us on Google Discover

Jannik Sinner has made a winning return from his three-month ban, triumphing in his first match at the Italian Open.

Sinner was trying to understand his level early on in his meeting with Argentine Mariano Navone, which he won 6-3, 6-4.

ATP number one Sinner now has 22 consecutive wins to his name, having won the Australian Open prior to his suspension.

He now takes on Jesper De Jong in his next match at the Italian Open after defeating Navone in one hour and 38 minutes.

Sinner now boasts an 8-0 win-loss record in 2025 so far, with his most recent match before Rome having been his Australian Open final win over Alexander Zverev.

Jannik Sinner has ‘doubts’ ahead of Italian Open third round match

Neither Zverev nor Carlos Alcaraz were able to surpass Sinner in the ATP rankings, although the number one has admitted to having doubts elsewhere during that time.

Asked after his win if over the three months he had doubts that he could rediscover the form he showed against Navone, he replied: “Of course. It’s normal to have doubts. Would be strange to not have any doubts. Would sound very arrogant, no?

READ MORE: Italian Open 2025 Men’s Singles: How to watch, prize money, predictions and everything you need to know

“I have doubts. I had doubts before going on court today. I have doubts now what’s going to happen in the next match.

“But we have to live with doubts because it means that you really care, that you want to improve, that you want to show yourself, that you want to do something special. Yeah, so I believe every one of us has daily doubts, so yeah.”

Jannik Sinner shares when he felt particularly nervous in his Italian Open first match

The top seed at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, Sinner started in round two after receiving a bye in round one.

There he was drawn to face world number 99 Navone, representing a first career meeting between the pair.

READ MORE: Jon Wertheim shares what Jannik Sinner was really like to interview after having conversation with him before his return to tennis in Rome

That represents the same record Sinner and his next opponent De Jong have, with the former beating the latter en route to his 2024 Australian Open title.

The Italian can undoubtedly improve for his next test at the Italian Open, but he should be delighted with his current level given his lack of action in recent times.

Asked to describe the difference between the intensity in practice games and the real thing, and if there was a moment he really felt the nerves in his match, Sinner said: “Everything.

“Look, the whole match, even when it seems quite comfortable, it’s a roller coaster, no? Especially inside we feel that.

“I would say especially beginning of the match having, again, the nerves of serving for the first time, trying to move in the best possible way you can.

“Yeah, that’s it. It’s different. Practice you play just more freely, you don’t care as much when you lose a point.

“I’m very competitive, so I love the official match. I love the competition. That’s what I was looking for, no? Today I felt quite good on court. I’m happy about that.

“Yeah, so hopefully of course we are aiming for small improvements which are the small details what can make the difference. Tomorrow I have one day off, and hopefully we can use it in the best way.”