Jannik Sinner will make his highly-anticipated return to professional tennis at the Italian Open.
The 23-year-old was out of action for three months after testing positive for banned substance clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
He has not played since defending his Australian Open title in January, but now Sinner is preparing to play in front of his home crowd at the Foro Italico for the first time since 2023.
Though he has not played in over three months, Sinner is relishing the opportunity to get back on court and he will be a dangerous opponent for his rivals at the Italian Open.
Jannik Sinner says if he heard from Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev during his ban
The tennis world was rocked by the news of Sinner’s positive doping tests in 2024, before his subsequent ban in February.
But three months later, Sinner, who remained at the top of the rankings during his absence from the ATP Tour, is back and ready to try and win the Italian Open for the first time.
He is back among his peers for the first time since the Australian Open this week, some of whom shared their opinions on Sinner’s ban.
Upon Sinner’s return to the tour he was asked if he had any contact from the likes of Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev. Other than mentioning Jack Draper who Sinner practiced with, the three-time Grand Slam champion did not mention any other names.
“I think you know that tennis is so individual, there’s no team. There’s no people around you, everyone has so many things to play, they have all to themselves; In the end I didn’t feel I was with anyone,” Sinner told reporters in Rome.
“I felt a little with Jack [Draper] who obviously came to train with me. We are very good friends. At the beginning of the suspension I had some surprising messages from some players, some players where I expected something, nothing came.
“In the end it’s normal, right? Because everyone wants to win and so there was no video call with any player.
“Secondly everything will be fine. As time slowly passes I try to find myself on the court, which is the most important thing to me. I don’t want to name names!”
Who will Jannik Sinner play in his first match after his suspension?
Sinner’s first match since January’s Australian Open will take place at the Italian Open against either Mariano Navone or Federico Cina.
The pair will face one another in the opening round of the Italian Open on Wednesday to determine who will face the World number one.
Should Sinner progress through the tournament he could face the likes of Frances Tiafoe in round four, and Ruud in the quarter-final.
Taylor Fritz could be Sinner’s opponent in the last four and Zverev or Alcaraz could be waiting in the championship match.
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