ROME – World number one Jannik Sinner is back on the court this week, but the 23-year-old Italian is managing expectations ahead of the Italian Open as he returns from a three-month doping suspension.
Sinner, who hasn’t played since winning the Australian Open in January, was handed a suspension in February after testing positive for clostebol—an anabolic agent—due to massages from his physiotherapist. After reaching a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), his ban ended on May 4, just in time for him to compete in his home tournament.
“It’s a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me,” Sinner admitted to reporters. “What’s missing is the complete feedback of where my level is… after the first-round match I’m going to have a good picture of where I am at.”
Despite the absence, Sinner has retained his No. 1 ranking, largely thanks to Alexander Zverev’s early exit from the Monte Carlo Masters. The pressure of competing at the top remains, but Sinner is more focused on recovery and rhythm than silverware—at least for now.
“It was not easy to accept [the suspension], because I know what really happened,” he said. “But sometimes, we have to choose the best in a very bad moment. It’s all over now, so I’m happy to play tennis again.”
Sinner reflected on the physical and mental toll of the situation, revealing that his hands are blistering again from the recent uptick in intensity after time off. “The body still has to adjust… the blisters in hands come again because you’re not used to it anymore.”
Sinner will enter the Italian Open directly in the second round, where he awaits the winner of the match between fellow Italian Federico Cina and Argentine Mariano Navone. He avoids top rival Carlos Alcaraz until the potential final, though he may face world No.7 Casper Ruud—fresh off a Madrid title—in the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz remains a question mark for Rome due to injury and has yet to arrive, while Sinner eyes steady improvement and fitness with the French Open in sight, running from May 25 to June 8.
With his doping saga behind him, Sinner is cautiously optimistic: “It’s nice to be back. Now, it’s just about taking it step by step.”
