His last racket in competition dates back to January 26 and his victorious final at the Australian Open against German Alexander Zverev. A few weeks later, the tennis player Jannik Sinner concluded an agreement with the World Anti -Doping Agency (AMA): three months of suspension for two positive tests to Clostebol, a prohibited substance in March 2024.
Inevitably, the world number one knows that its comeback in front of its audience, at the Masters 1000 in Rome,, After a long period far from the short “Arouses a lot of attention”as he had recognized him himself at a press conference before the tournament. A lot of doubts, too, as to its “Level of play” – He could not officially resume training until April 13 -, and the reactions of the spectators as much as other players on the circuit, several of which deplored a preferential treatment of the instances and a too light sentence.
On the first point, the 23 -year -old transalpine has already reassured a little on Saturday May 10, holding his rank for his entry into the running, against Mariano Navone, 99e in the ATP ranking. Argentinian, one year older year, culminated at 24e World rank in June 2024, but he had the best result this season only a quarter -final in Buenos Aires.
The two men had never faced themselves until then and of this first, Jannik Sinner will undoubtedly keep the memory of a beautiful fight – Mariano Navone, a specialist in the clay soilly offered him resistance in the second set. But the local hero ended up winning after 1 h 38 of play, 6-3, 6-4, concluding the part of a winning service which caused the joy of the tifosi, who came in number to attend the meeting on the central campo.
The triple winner in Grand Chelem (Australian Open 2024 and 2025, US Open 2024) had, it must be said, no more concerns about the reaction of the public against him, he who had been welcomed with fervor in Foro Italico during his training sessions preceding his debut in the competition. To the point that he wanted to share his gratitude to the spectators In a video posted in the morning of his match against Mariano Navone. “I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the past few days. For support, the love you gave me, joy: all of this was incredible. (…) I am happy to be back on the ground and to be able to share this moment with you all ”declares the interested party, in English, in this four -minute clip.
“I think tennis also needs him”
He still had to know the attitude of his rivals. “I have arrived at 45 minutes [au Foro Italico]I haven’t seen anyone yet. Tennis is such an individual sport, everyone does their stuff on their side. During these three months, I almost talked to anyone, a little with [le Britannique] Jack [Draper] who came to train with me [à Monte-Carlo]we are very friends. At the start of the suspension, I received messages from players that I did not expect to receive and conversely, nothing came from players from which I could expect a little something ”he had retraced at length at a press conference on May 5.
The words of the world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz, four days later in front of the media, gave it a first indication of the most positive. “” Honestly, I would say I need him on the circuit. Because he pushes me to be a better player, to give me 100 % every day ”declared the quadruple winner in the Grand Slam (US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, Roland-Garros 2024), on May 9, after his victory against the Serbian Dusan Lajovic (6-3, 6-3). “I think tennis also needs him. To attract new fans ”continued the Spaniard, adding that he hoped to find him in the final on May 18 – the two men not being in the same part of the table.
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The day before, Alexander Zverev, second in the ATP ranking, had also welcomed his presence in Rome … but more pragmatic. “It’s a good thing for me because I am someone who likes to go unnoticed (…), Explained the German at the microphone of the Sky Sports channel. In recent months, the attention was obviously focused on me because I was the number 1 seed for where I played and it was important to perform in a certain way, so it helps a little attention is on Jannik now. »»
In any case, he remains a player who has still not digested the Clostebol affair: Nick Kyrgios, one of the most virulent criticisms of the world number one since the announcement of his two positive controls. While some are already dreaming of a shattering comeback from Jannik Sinner, with a first Masters 1000 in Rome to his record as a key, the Australian responded on the social network X: ” For what ? Is it a generational talent? I would not be surprised at all ” Accompanied by an emoji that cries laughing. Yellow here in this case.
The title holder IGA Swiatek eliminated in the third round of the Rome tournament
The world’s number two and title holders, Iga Swiatek was eliminated on Saturday May 10, from the third round of the WTA tournament in Rome. No auspicious a few days before Roland-Garros, (May 25, June 8), of which she won four of the last five editions (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024). The 23 -year -old Polish was beaten by the American Danielle Collins (35e), 6-1, 7-5, after having multiplied the direct faults, yielding the first round in 34 minutes with only 23 % of the first balls and fifteen points won. IGA Swiatek, who has not yet won a title since the start of the season, had still hitherto still reached at least the quarterfinals. In the wake of this underperformance at Foro Italico, where she has already imposed herself three times (2021, 2022, 2024), she will demot to the 4e Place in the WTA ranking.