World No 1 Jannik Sinner moves through gears to reach Italian Open quarters

ROME - Jannik Sinner came through the first true test of his comeback from a doping ban with a straight-sets May 13 win over Francisco Cerundolo which took the world number one into the Italian Open quarter-finals.

Italian Sinner bested 17th seed Cerundolo 7-6 (7/2),6-3 in a match which was delayed by a couple of hours due to a torrential downpour to set up a last-eight clash with either Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar.

Cerundolo knocked out Sinner in the last 16 the last time he played here in 2023, but that was before the 23-year-old had became the tournament-winning machine he is today.

Sinner is finding his feet in Rome, his first tournament since the end of a three-month suspension accepted in February from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) following two positive tests for traces of clostebol in March 2024.

His true target is the French Open which follows his home event and he showed some signs of rediscovering the form which has won him three Grand Slams and 2024’s ATP Finals.

“I’m very happy, because today I felt that I raised my level. Game-wise I felt a little bit better,” he said.

“I’m happy to be back. I was three months out so, you know, every situation for me I feel very fortunate to be here.”

Sinner had to battle through the first set against spirited Cerundolo but once he prevailed in the tie-break he built up an unassailable lead by winning four games in a row in the second.

The packed centre court stands hailed their hero after he took the win at the fourth time of asking and continue his bid for a first Rome title.

Musetti defies Medvedev, rain

The rain which delayed Sinner’s match had a much bigger impact on his compatriot Lorenzo