After serving a doping ban, the world number one is back in action – and wins his opening match in Rome in style.
Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner has returned to the ATP Tour with an easy win after serving a doping ban. The world number one, who was suspended for three months after two positive tests for clostebol, cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the second round of the Masters in Rome.
Sinner, who was celebrated by Italian fans, was still lacking a little rhythm, but he took his chances in the decisive moments. In the first set, he broke to take a 3-1 lead, and the second set was evenly matched for a long time, with both players showing enormous weaknesses on their serve. Sinner took his first match point to win.
Sinner had a bye in the first round and now faces Dutchman Jesper De Jong. The world number 93 is not a big challenge for the Italian on paper either. In the quarterfinals, he could face the in-form Casper Ruud from Norway (No. 6). Second seed Alexander Zverev (Hamburg) and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) are also in action in Italy’s capital.
The South Tyrolean Sinner is gaining competitive experience at his home tournament in Rome and wants to get in shape for the clay court highlight of the year. He has not yet won the French Open in Paris (starting May 25). The fact that his three-month suspension fell exactly between the Australian Open and Roland Garros was viewed critically by many of his professional colleagues.
