In March last year, the world number one tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol, and in February 2025, Sinner and Wada (the International Anti-Doping Organization) agreed on a three-month suspension.
It has now been served, and Sinner is back on the court again. Conveniently enough, on home soil at the Italian Open Championships, in the last clay court tournament before the Grand Slam tournament, the French Open.
And he was received, at the very least, with open arms.
The Campo Centrale arena at the Foro Italico in Rome was almost full when he was welcomed back, and the audience would not be disappointed with the home player's performance.
The world number one won easily in two straight sets against Argentine Mariano Navone with the final scores 6–3, 6–4.
I have waited a long time for a long time, I'm very happy to be back, he says in TV4 Play and continues:
It's very difficult to know your exact level when you don't get to play matches, the best training is playing matches. Now I've got some good feedback, and I know what I need to work on.
In the next match, Sinner will face Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
