Jim Courier names the ‘danger’ player Jannik Sinner could play at the Italian Open after being handed the ‘worst draw possible’

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Jannik Sinner is set to return to tennis this week, having missed three months of action.

World number one Sinner was suspended earlier this year, which saw him miss three months of competition.

Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters, and the Madrid Open all came and went, as Sinner was forced to watch at home.

Sinner will now return to tennis in Rome, his home tournament, as fans eagerly anticipate his opening match on Campo Centrale.

Reacting to the Italian’s draw, one ATP Tour legend has pointed out a ‘dangerous’ player Sinner could struggle against in the fourth round.

Jim Courier warns Jannik Sinner of ‘danger’ Francisco Cerundolo after being handed ‘worst possible’ draw

Speaking on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, former world number one Jim Courier previewed Sinner’s Italian Open draw.

“That is a pretty nice entry back into this high level competition [against Mariano Navone or Federico Cina],” he said.

“He could have had a more awkward match-up where he faced someone like a [Giovanni] Mpetshi Perricard, which would make it more about the nerves than rhythm. So that’s a good match to get into the rhythm.

“After that, the draw Gods said, let’s give it to him.

“[Alejandro] Davidovich Fokina has been so good this season. What about [Francisco] Cerundolo if he gets past [Frances] Tiafoe? That’s who he would likely face.

“My goodness, this is the worst draw you could possibly get for coming back in.

“He is not going to have time to get into cruise control here. He is going to be tested from that third round on.”

Courier explained just how tricky an opponent Cerundolo could prove to be for Sinner, should they face off in Rome.

“I think the danger match is Cerundolo,” he said.

“There is no guarantee that he or [Jannik] Sinner gets there, but that’s the match where Cerundolo is in form, he has confidence, he has a nasty game for really all surfaces these days bar grass.

“That’s the one you go, you really need to be sharp because Fran has been on the dirt.”

2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick disagreed, and explained what he ‘likes’ about Sinner’s draw.

“I do think, though, looking at this draw, and it’s really tough based on current form. But if I am Jannik Sinner, I want to be hitting balls and making sure that someone is not going to serve me off the court,” said Roddick.

“I like [Matteo] Berrettini in the quarters more than I would like him second round here, when you are still trying to find your timing.

“I look at Navone and Cina and I’m like he’s going to be in return games and probably get through that. Even Davidovich Fokina, who is 15 in the race right now, he is going to get looks at return games.

“He is going to be able to get his feet underneath him. I actually like this.

“I don’t know if we are approaching this as if he is going to be able to win the tournament but as far as getting that rhythm back and getting two or three matches in and feeling like you are in the trenches in most rallies, I actually like this for him, as it pertains for Roland Garros, not necessarily for Rome.”

How well has Francisco Cerundolo performed in 2025?

Courier thinks Cerundolo could be a ‘danger’ to Sinner’s Italian Open title hopes, and he’s not wrong in pointing that out, considering the Argentine’s performance on clay this year.

No player in men’s tennis has secured more wins on the surface in 2025 than Cerundolo, as he continues to impress on the red stuff.

He enjoyed a strong tournament last time out, when Cerundolo reached the semi-finals of the Madrid Open, coming up short against eventual champion Casper Ruud, 4-6, 5-7.

Sinner will certainly be aware of Cerundolo’s clay court pedigree, and won’t want to be reminded of what happened the last time the pair faced off in Rome.

Cerundolo handed Sinner his most recent defeat at his home tournament, beating him 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, at the 2023 Italian Open, tying their head-to-head at 2-2.

Only time will tell if the pair will face off for a fifth time at this year’s Italian Open, but if they were to do so, it would certainly be worth tuning in for.

Sinner will make his return to tennis against either Cina or Navone, while Cerundolo gets underway against Nicolas Jarry on Friday, May 9.