All roads lead to Rome Open for Jannik Sinner after doping ban

ROME – Jannik Sinner is the star of the show at the upcoming Rome Masters as the world No. 1 and Italian tennis hero gears up for his return to the courts after a contested doping ban.

Away from the game since agreeing on a suspension with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in February, the 23-year-old was welcomed back to action on May 5 by thousands of fans who watched his first training session at the tournament on centre court at the Foro Italico.

Such is the interest in Sinner, who has become a national hero since rising to the top of the men’s game, that Sky Sport broadcast the practice match with world No. 38 Jiri Lehecka live on television.

All eyes will be on Sinner as he has not swung a racket since retaining his Australian Open title in January, a victory which took his Grand Slam tally to three.

“I’m very happy, happy to be back here. It has been a very long, long three months,” he told reporters in a packed conference room inside the centre court.

Fans in Rome have waited two years to see Sinner play their clay-court tournament after injury forced him to miss the 2024 edition, won by Alexander Zverev.

It is on a surface which is not his favourite and his rustiness was clear to see during practice.

Only one of Sinner’s 19 titles has come on clay, in Umag, Croatia back in 2022, the same year as his best result in Rome, a quarter-final exit at the hands of beaten finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.

However, he does have some time before he finally takes to the court, his status as the top-ranked player on the men’s tour allowing him a bye into the second round which starts on May 9.

Sinner