ROME (AP) — Jannik Sinner expressed surprise at the diverse reactions from fellow players during the beginning of his three-month doping suspension, noting both the unexpected support and the silence from some he anticipated would reach out.
The top-ranked athlete is making his much-anticipated return to tennis at the Italian Open this week, following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that allowed him to dodge missing any Grand Slam tournaments and return for his home event.
“I was taken aback by the messages I received from certain players, while others I expected to hear from chose to remain silent,” Sinner shared. “However, I won’t disclose any names.”
This settlement arose after WADA contested a prior ruling from the International Tennis Integrity Agency that cleared Sinner, attributing the incident to an accidental ingestion of a banned anabolic steroid back in March 2024.
Many in the professional circuit believe Sinner’s penalty was lenient. Recently, he shared his discomfort while in the locker room and players’ lounge during his successful title defense at the Australian Open in January, admitting that “players were viewing me differently.”
Coach Simone Vagnozzi noted that both he and Darren Cahill, Sinner’s co-coach, noticed the curious glances aimed at Sinner.
“In situations like this, it’s virtually impossible to avoid being the center of attention. Nonetheless, there have been some encouraging words from others,” Vagnozzi remarked, praising support received from Holger Rune’s mom, Casper Ruud, and Alexander Zverev.
During the final month of his ban, Sinner trained alongside Jack Draper, Lorenzo Sonego, and Rune at his training base in Monaco.
Sinner felt the sting of not being able to cheer on friends during competitions.
“I wanted to support my friends in sports like cycling and motorsports, but I couldn’t attend any events. That was the hardest part for me,” he reflected.
In March, professional cyclist Giulio Ciccone shared an Instagram photo featuring himself, Sinner, and Ferrari endurance drivers Alberto Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi enjoying a biking excursion together.
As for the coaching situation, Vagnozzi expressed a desire to support Sinner as his primary coach.
With Cahill set to retire at the end of the year, Vagnozzi was asked if he would consider taking on the role solo.
“I could definitely handle it alone,” Vagnozzi stated. “However, with players of this caliber, having another perspective is vital. It’s equally important to balance the time spent with the player, as coaching can easily become a year-round commitment.”
“Still, I hope Darren stays with us for another five years—we truly have a remarkable relationship. In terms of results and overall effectiveness, he could be one of the best coaches ever,” he added.
Vagnozzi highlighted that Sinner is the fourth player to reach No. 1 with the guidance of the Australian coach, after legends like Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, and Simona Halep, emphasizing, “But above all, he’s a remarkable individual.”
Sinner is set to play his first match on Saturday against No. 99 Mariano Navone, who triumphed over 18-year-old Italian wild card Federico Cinà with a score of 6-3, 6-3 in Thursday’s matches. Although Sinner enters with a 21-match winning streak, it’s worth noting he hasn’t participated in an official match since January.
Additionally, the red clay at the Foro Italico is not Sinner’s favorite surface, with only one of his 19 career titles won on clay, which he claimed in Umag, Croatia, back in 2022.
“It’s certainly the surface where he feels the least confidence,” Vagnozzi acknowledged. “However, he had a solid clay season last year, reaching the semifinals in both Monte Carlo and the French Open, plus the quarterfinals in Madrid. Therefore, I believe he can excel here as well.”
The last Italian man to claim the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
