(Video) Jannik Sinner begins comeback pursuit after being spotted training with Jack Draper in Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner will make his return to tour with the Rome Masters, with his suspension ending next month.

(Video) Jannik Sinner begins comeback pursuit after being spotted training with Jack Draper in Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner in comeback mode (Via Sportal and X)

Jannik Sinner was recently spotted practicing on a clay court with his long-time friend Jack Draper. Sinner is on an ongoing three-month suspension as part of a case-resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and will make his comeback to tour at next month’s Rome Masters. The Rome Masters will be his second tournament of the year after his successful title defense at the Australian Open.

As a part of his suspension, the World No. 1 was permitted to return to “official training activity” on April 13. Prior to this, Sinner was not allowed to use public tennis courts or gyms and couldn’t train with fellow professional players. But he returned to practice on the clay this week, with Draper helping out as a sparring partner in nearby Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

YouTube video

Until now, Sinner had been severely limited and could only use private gym facilities and practice at private tennis courts with sparring partners who are not professionally registered. Draper and Sinner have been good friends, even partnering for doubles at the 2024 Montreal Open, where they made it to the quarterfinals. Draper had also spoken in support of Sinner during his ban.

During his ban, which will lift on May 4, neither Alexander Zverev nor Carlos Alcaraz has been able to overtake Sinner for the World No.1 ranking. Alcaraz, however, was able to overtake Zverev and become World No. 2 after the Spaniard clinched his maiden Monte Carlo Masters title.

Serena Williams believes that men’s tennis needs Jannik Sinner

Serena Williams was recently named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people for 2025. In her interview with TIME, Williams spoke about Jannik Sinner and his recent doping suspension. She said that men’s tennis “needs” him, even though she seemed unsure about how serious his punishment was. She also added that she would have faced a tougher punishment if it were her.

Serena Williams and Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner and Serena Williams (via X)

Williams also reflected on how Maria Sharapova was treated after her doping case. The 23-time Grand Slam champion shared that she felt some sympathy for her former rival. Sharapova had tested positive for meldonium in 2016 and was banned for two years. The ban was later reduced to 15 months. Like Sinner, her positive doping test was ruled as unintentional.

Jack Draper will next play at the Madrid Open

Jack Draper clinched the biggest title of his career last month at the Indian Wells. The Brit won his maiden Masters 1000 title, defeating several higher-ranked players like Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz on his way to the finals. With this triumph, Draper broke into the top 10 for the first time, surging to World No. 7.

Jack Draper Indian Wells 2025
Jack Draper (via Instagram @jackdraper)

However, since then he has struggled a bit to find his form. He lost his opening round match at the Miami Open in straight sets to eventual champion Jakub Mensik. Draper then commenced his clay season with the Monte Carlo Masters, where he succumbed to a last-16 defeat by eventual semifinalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Draper will next play at the Madrid Open.