Brad Gilbert Believes Jannik Sinner Needs to Be ‘Careful’ as He Returns to Tennis in Rome
Jannik Sinner will play Mariano Navone in the opening match of the Italian Open to mark his return to the tour.
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Jannik Sinner and Brad Gilbert (via X/The Tennis Letter/The New York Times)
Jannik Sinner is due to return to professional tennis at the Italian Open after a three-month suspension from tennis for failing two doping tests last year. The Italian star last played a competitive match in January when he defeated Alexander Zverev to win the Australian Open. American legendary coach Brad Gilbert warns him of being careful ahead of his opening match in Rome.
The Italian has not played a competitive match for over three months and will have to take on other players, who have been match-fit for the majority of the season. The World No.1 might be the best player in the men’s circuit, but having gotten suspended for doping might affect his game on the court.
In fact, he has often argued that he had no hand in the banned substance found in his system, as it inadvertently entered his body after a mistake from his former physio. He has also revealed that it took him time to accept the suspension, which his lawyers agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Brad Gilbert, a former coach of Coco Gauff, aired his views on Sinner’s return from suspension and his much-anticipated return to tennis. He revealed that returning to the court from suspension is a lot different from injury.
If you are out through injury, it’s probably easier [than being suspended]. This is a much more difficult scenario to come back from because, mentally, how do you keep practicing for this? I think the whole goal is to get matches at Rome, Hamburg, and then be ready for Paris and Wimbledon. Those are the two most important. It’s not about what he does in Rome, but it’s how he peaks physically so that he is ready to play best of five in Paris. I think that is the most important thing.
Brad Gilbert said via Tennis Channel
Sinner is expected to open his Italian Open account against Mariano Navone in the second round after earning a first round bye. The Italian has never reached the semi-finals of the tournament in his career.
Brad Gilbert says Jannik Sinner will be fully ready for the French Open
Jannik Sinner will play the Hamburg Open after the Italian Open, as he has often revealed that he’s not expecting a great run in Rome. After Hamburg, he will be ready for the French Open, which starts on May 25. Brad Gilbert agrees with the World No.1’s schedule and believes he will be fully match-ready at Roland Garros.
They have to be careful when they come back that they don’t go too hard, you don’t want to get hurt. But I expect by Paris that he is going to be ready and he will be one of the top three favorites to win that tournament. On the ban I thought that whole thing was a joke. Any time any player has one billionth of something that is nothing and it should be just a warning like missing a drug test.
Brad Gilbert said
Sinner will hope to get back to full match rhythm at the Italian Open, so that he is able to get into his best form ahead of the French Open.
Jannik Sinner’s draw at the Italian Open
Jannik Sinner is currently on a 21-match winning streak, with his last defeat coming against Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open last October. Sinner will face Mariano Navone in the second round of the Italian Open after a first-round bye. If he does beat the Argentine, he could potentially face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round.
A win over Fokina will likely see him play Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. His projected quarter-final opponent is Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud, while Sinner is in a different half of the draw to Carlos Alcaraz, who is seeded behind World No.2 Alexander Zverev.
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