Sinner triumphs in return to the Italian Open after doping suspension

▲ Thousands of fans celebrated with Italy's most popular athlete. Photo by AFP

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La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. a11

Rome. Jannik Sinner still knows how to win a tennis match. The world number one made a strong comeback from a three-month doping ban and defeated Argentine Mariano Navone, ranked 99th, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday in front of an eager crowd at the Italian Open.

It was Sinner's first match in more than 100 days, since winning her third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

There weren't too many signs of rust, and it didn't take long for Sinner to start hitting his groundstrokes or near the lines. When the Italian broke for 3-1 in the first set, the crowd inside Center Court chanted Ole, ole, ole, Sin-ner, Sin-ner .

However, the tennis player acknowledged that he had doubts about whether he would regain the form he had before his suspension. "It's normal to have doubts. It would be strange if that didn't happen. It would sound very arrogant, wouldn't it?" he said.

Around 10,500 fans packed the venue to witness Sinner's return. Banners reading "Bentornato Jannik" ( Welcome Back Jannik ) hung in the stands. The victory extended the Italian's winning streak to 22 matches, dating back to October.

The controversy

In February, Sinner reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over a suspension that raised questions, as it conveniently allowed him to skip any Grand Slams and return at his home tournament.

The settlement came after WADA challenged the International Tennis Integrity Agency's decision last year to completely exonerate Sinner for what it deemed accidental contamination from a banned anabolic steroid in March 2024.

Many fellow professionals felt Sinner was treated too leniently. But the audience at the evening session at the Foro Italico fully supported the player, who remains Italy's most popular athlete despite his suspension. "The crowd was incredible ," declared the former world number one.

Sinner will face Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in the next round. The last Italian to win the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.

In the women's tournament, Poland's Iga Swiatek, winner of five Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros, lost 6-1, 7-5 to Danielle Collins. The third-round defeat marked Swiatek's earliest exit at a major WTA tournament in nearly four years.