Many people were curious to know when Jannik Sinner would return to tennis after his suspension. Sinner is getting ready to return to the ATP Tour after a break. He started training this week and is practicing with Jack Draper as his sparring partner. Sinner will have to adjust after a three-month break, which was partly due to his period of ineligibility. This break happened because of his doping violation, which caused a lot of public discussion. The 23-year-old Italian tennis player has been missing since January, shortly after defending his Australian Open title.
Controversy Around Jannik Sinner Sinner’s Ban
The controversy around Jannik Sinner’s doping violation still continues. Serena Williams recently shared her thoughts on the matter in an interview with Time Magazine. Serena said that if she had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, she would have been banned for a long time and would have lost her Grand Slam titles. She pointed out what she feels are double standards in tennis, referring to the case of Maria Sharapova, who got a two-year ban in 2016 for a similar situation.
Jannik Sinner’s Return to Tennis
Sinner and Jack Draper were seen practicing on clay courts in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France. Sinner is now just a week away from returning to tennis, and he will be the first Italian player to play in the Italian Open as the ATP No. 1.
What Happened While Sinner Was Away?
While Jannik Sinner was absent, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev were both competing for the Number 1 spot. But they couldn’t take over due the game due to their lackluster performances over the past three months. Alcaraz was able to close the gap a little by winning Monte-Carlo. If Sinner gets an early exit from the Rome Open, it could help Alcaraz take the Number 1 spot before Roland Garros.
Missing ATP 1000 Events
Sinner has missed four ATP 1000 events this season, including the Miami Open, where he was the defending champion. He also missed Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo, and the upcoming Madrid Open. Despite all this, he has stayed at the top of the ATP rankings for 46 weeks.
Home Court Advantage in Italian Open
Playing in Italy will help Sinner prepare for the upcoming season and the French Open. His best result in Rome was a quarter-final finish in 2022. In 2024, he reached the semi-finals of the French Open, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller.
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