New Delhi: Jannik Sinner couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome after more than three months on the sidelines. The world No.1 returned to competitive tennis with a straight-sets victory at the Italian Open defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in front of a sold-out home crowd. The 23-year-old was visibly emotional as chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole, Sin-ner, Sin-ner” echoed through Campo Centrale, with fans dressed in orange and waving signs that read “Bentornato Jannik”- Welcome back, Jannik.
This was Sinner’s first match since he lifted the Australian Open trophy in January. His absence followed a three-month suspension agreed upon with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after a positive test for clostebol, a banned substance found in a spray his physio used to treat a cut on his own finger. While WADA initially considered a longer ban, they eventually settled on a shorter suspension, a decision that sparked mixed reactions in the tennis world. Despite the controversy, the Italian faithful made their support clear.
Tennis is so much better off with Jannik Sinner.
Welcome back Il Predestinato 🦊 pic.twitter.com/92CZIbQqUR
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 10, 2025
Little rust, lots of emotion
Sinner admitted that he was feeling nervous before the match. “It’s normal to have doubts,” he said. “If you don’t, that would sound arrogant.” But once he stepped onto the court, it didn’t take long for his instincts to kick in. By the fourth game of the opening set, Sinner was back to his punishing groundstrokes, breaking Navone and showing the kind of form that’s taken him to the top of the rankings.
There were some signs of rust, especially in the second set when he dropped a service game after breaking Navone but he quickly recovered. Sinner’s aggressive backhand and relentless baseline play helped him finish the match in just under 100 minutes, hitting twice as many winners (21) as his opponent. While his forehand did show signs of inconsistency, contributing to 16 unforced errors but the overall performance was a solid indicator that he’s getting back to business.
A celebration of resilience
The win extended Sinner’s unbeaten run to 22 matches, dating back to October, and marked a special chapter in his career. “It has been amazing to go on court again after such a long time,” Sinner said. “From the first day I came here, the support has been incredible. I waited a long time for this moment.”
Rome’s tennis fans had been anticipating his return all week. Huge crowds gathered just to watch him practice, some even climbing onto fire hydrants and potted plants to get a glimpse. Italian media dubbed it “Jannik’s Day,” and even members of the press broke into applause when he arrived for his post-match press conference.
This drone shot of Centrale chanting for Sinner is magnificent.
You simply can’t match the passion of Rome’s fans ❤️🔥#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/Svl2sDr5ib
— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 10, 2025
Sinner’s parents were in the stands, and though he walked onto the court without much emotion, hand-in-hand with a child mascot, the moment clearly meant a lot. His return isn’t just about results rather it’s about regaining rhythm, confidence, and competitive sharpness. “The best practice is the match itself,” he noted.
What next?
Sinner will next face Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, who is currently ranked 93rd in the world. While the comeback has started on the right note, Sinner knows there’s more work to do and more hearts to win back, both on and off the court.
Jannik Sinner returns from a three-month doping ban to beat Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 at the Italian Open, thrilling the Rome crowd with a confident display. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
