Jim Courier Gives His Verdict on Jannik Sinner’s Level in Rome After Comeback From Doping Ban
World No.1 Jannik Sinner secured a place in the third round after knocking out Mariano Navone at the Italian Open.
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Jim Courier, Jannik Sinner (Image via We Love Tennis, X/Jannik Sinner)
No one really doubted whether Jannik Sinner would be able to play to his full potential after his comeback. Sinner did not disappoint as he has breezed past Argentina’s Mariano Navone to secure victory for the first time since the Australian Open final this January.
Because of the doping ban, he missed four Masters 1000 tournaments as well as other events of the 500 category. Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier, following Sinner’s second-round win, praised the youngster for maintaining his level despite his three-month absence.
They may not have had the same low expectations in the stands. They were excited to see Sinner back on court here in Rome and he did not disappoint. If he had any nerves or rust he was not showing it early on. It looked very, very similar to the guy we last saw in Australia holding the trophy.
Jim Courier said on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast
His doping case took more than a year to resolve. The three-time Grand Slam champion from Italy failed the drug test at the start of the 2024 season and avoided the ban because the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted his explanation of being a victim of accidental contamination. His former physio, Giacomo Naldi, had used a spray containing clostebol, and the drug transferred into Sinner’s body during physiotherapy sessions.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stepped in, approaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to ban him for one or more than one year. But WADA, before the scheduled CAS hearing, resolved the case and gave the World No.1 a ban of three months.
Carlos Alcaraz on why Jannik Sinner’s comeback is important for him
Over the recent months, tennis fans have seen how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner push each other to be better players. So Alcaraz could not be more happy with Sinner’s comeback as the former now expects him to up his own level thanks to competition from his Italian rival.
I have seen him around, for me, it’s great to have him back. Honestly, I need him on the tour because, I mean, he pushes me to be a better player and give 100% every day, to be better. Of course, I am a fan of tennis, and I think that tennis needs him, to bring in new fans.
Carlos Alcaraz told Tennis Channel after his second-round match
Alcaraz and Sinner have locked horns with each other 10 times with the former edging the World No.1 6-4 in their head-to-head encounters. They are yet to meet this season.
Last year, they met thrice in official events, the results of which ended in Sinner’s favor. The 23-year-old lost just six matches last year, half of which were from the Spaniard.
Sinner could set up a clash with the four-time Grand Slam champion, if both of them reach the final of the Italian Open. Alcaraz has reached the fourth round of the Italian Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career and if he reaches the quarterfinals, he will reach the last eight of all the nine Masters 1000 tournaments.
Alcaraz, before setting up the fourth-round clash with Karen Khachanov, went past two Serbian aces, Dusan Lajovic and Laslo Djere. Sinner, on the other hand, has set up a third-round clash with Jesper de Jong against whom he leads 1-0 in the head-to-head clash. The three-time Grand Slam champion, before reaching the final, could run into Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and Alex de Minaur in the semifinals.
Sinner is making his first appearance in the tournament since 2023 as last year he skipped it due to an injury. He has not yet reached the final and his best performance came in 2022 when he advanced to the quarterfinals.
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