Sinner returns from ban as fans make their feelings known on Grand Slam winner
Jannik Sinner has served a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Authority, with the world No.1 making his return at the Rome Masters as he builds up to the French Open
Tennis world No.1 Jannik Sinner returned to the court on Saturday for the first time since his three-month ban for a positive Clostebol test. The suspension drew controversy from many within the sport, including 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
The ban followed a deal Sinner's team negotiated with the World Anti-Doping Authority and came into effect on February 9. He has now served the full length of the suspension and will be free to play in all four majors this year.
With the French Open coming up at the end of the month, Sinner is now starting his build-up. The Italian has never won the tournament at Roland Garros, with his best effort being a semi-final last year.
As he bids to win in Paris for the first time, Sinner started his preparation by playing in the BNL Internazionali D'Italia. The 23-year-old was drawn against Argentina's Mariano Navone in a second-round match, having been handed a first-round bye.
A number of factors may have played into Sinner's decision to make his return at Foro Italico. The first is that it meant he was playing in front of a home crowd, while the courts play in a similar way to the ones at Roland Garros.
Ahead of his clash with Navone, Sinner walked out to a huge roar and a standing ovation. The noise levels did drop significantly during the match itself, though Sinner was able to temper his supporters' nervousness.
While Navone broke back towards the end of the second set, Sinner was able to ease to a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 38 minutes. The home favourite did not do much to celebrate, simply batting a spare ball into the crowd, and then applauding the spectators.
He also wrote 'Che bello' (How beautiful) on the camera lens at the end of the match, as chants of 'Ole' rang around the stadium. The defeat of Navone continued Sinner's winning streak, with the Italian having won 22 matches in a row, leaving him delighted.
"It has been amazing to go again on court after such a long time, having a great support also in the last days," Sinner said. "From the first day I came here, it has been amazing. I was waiting for this moment quite a long time.
"The whole match, even when it seems quite comfortable, it's a rollercoaster, no? Inside we feel that, especially the beginning of the match having, again, the nerves of serving for the first time, trying to move in the best possible way you can.
"I was missing the feedback of official matches, which are the best feedbacks we players can get. At least now I have a bigger picture of what I'm doing well and what I have to improve. It was a great start from my point of view of this tournament and of the comeback."
Sinner will now face world No 93 Jesper de Jong in the third round on Monday. The Italian Open is the final Masters 1000 event before the French Open, though Sinner has also entered the Hamburg Open in the week before Roland Garros.
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