“It will be difficult,” Jannik Sinner does not expect an easy road on his return to tour from suspension
Jannik Sinner is set to return to the tour on May 4 after serving his three-month suspension.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
Jannik Sinner is closing in on a return to the tour following his suspension. The Italian has been away since February 9 after he agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to serve a three-month ban for his doping case. He recently revealed that his comeback to tennis won’t be an easy ride for him.
Sinner has not played any tournament since January 26 when he defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets to win the Australian Open. He was set to feature at the Qatar Open and was already in Doha when WADA confirmed that they have reached an agreement with the Italian’s star legal representatives.
The World No.1 twice tested positive for clostebol in March last year. Despite defending that the banned substance inadvertently entered his system, WADA opposed his position as they believed he had responsibility for doping. Sinner has begun training with professional players in Monaco as he eyes his return to the tour.
At a Sports Gala in his native South Tyrol in Italy, he was asked during a local broadcast how he has been preparing for his return. The 23-year-old pointed out that he has been training very hard but doesn’t expect a smooth return to professional tennis.
We’re training very, very hard. Hopefully, we’ll get some momentum going again ahead of the clay season. It certainly won’t be easy for me. The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully, I’ll be able to get back into the rhythm, and then we’ll see how it goes.
Jannik Sinner said via ORF Sudtirol
Sinner was recently seen training with Jack Draper and Matteo Berrettini before the Madrid Open. The US Open champion’s suspension will end on May 4, just three days before the Italian Open commences in Rome.
Jannik Sinner reveals how he settled in with the three-month suspension
In a recent interview, Jannik Sinner’s physical trainer, Marco Panichi, revealed that the Italian had rediscovered himself during the suspension. He added that being engaged in several off-court activities, including fashion shows, skiing and travels, has helped him settle with the situation. Sinner revealed during the aforementioned interview that his family and those around played a vital role in accepting the ban.
I think at the beginning of the three months, it was quite nice. A bit of time away from all the grind, I spent time with family, with friends. I was doing new things and getting to know myself better, finding out where I stand. I think it helped me a lot.
Jannik Sinner said
Sinner also engaged in personal training and discipline amidst the off-court activities. The World No.1 will be looking to return to the court in good shape, especially at the French Open in May.
Jannik Sinner is likely to struggle when he returns to tour
Jannik Sinner will return to action at the Italian Open next month. The Italian just has over a week before his suspension ends. He has already signed up for the Hamburg Open, which will be after the Italian Open to be ready for the French Open, which will commence on May 25 in Paris.
Some fans will be expecting a Gran return from Sinner in Rome, but that looks far more likely to happen. It will be the Italian’s first tournament since January, and that is almost three and half months out of professional tennis. There might surely be signs of rust in his performance and some bit of struggle on the court.
Also, Sinner will be under pressure because of the expectations of his home fans. He has done well to play under pressure in the past few months amidst the doping saga but this will be new to him. Hopefully, he gets used to it quickly during the ATP 1000 Masters tournament.
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