Jannik Sinner is set to return to competitive tennis after a three-month doping suspension, facing Mariano Navone in the second round of the Italian Open on May 10. This marks Sinner’s first match since his Australian Open victory against Alexander Zverev, where he won his third Grand Slam title. Prior to this matchup, Navone advanced by defeating Federico Cina and expressed hope to “spoil” Sinner’s comeback, acknowledging the challenge of competing against such a skilled player.
Sinner’s suspension resulted from a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, causing him to miss four major tournaments, including the prestigious Masters 1000 events. Despite this, he maintained his top ranking, as World No.2 Zverev and No.3 Carlos Alcaraz could not surpass him. Tennis analyst Brad Gilbert noted Sinner’s situation is particularly challenging, emphasizing the mental toll of returning after a doping ban rather than an injury.
Sinner is aiming for match practice in Rome and Hamburg before competing at the French Open and Wimbledon. Projected matches could lead to a quarterfinal showdown with Casper Ruud and a potential final against Alcaraz, with whom Sinner has a 4-6 head-to-head record.
