Italian Davis Cup captain Filippo Volandri has offered fresh insight into Jannik Sinner’s preparation and mindset as the world No. 1 gears up for his comeback at the Rome Masters—his first tournament since serving a three-month suspension due to two failed doping tests earlier this year.
While Sinner looked dominant at the 2025 Australian Open, where he captured the title, his momentum was halted after agreeing to a settlement with WADA that sidelined him from the tour. Despite the setback, Volandri insists that Sinner’s current training has been strategically centered around Roland Garros.
“His physical training has been focused on Roland Garros,” Volandri told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Clay requires different tools—like the wide serve and heavy topspin—to push opponents off court. The break has allowed him to properly recharge for the next two or three seasons.”
The captain added that the downtime served as an impromptu pre-season for Sinner, who has rarely had a full off-season in recent years due to deep runs in tournaments and a packed schedule.
‘Extremely Motivated’ and Mentally Ready
Volandri, who led Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup titles, recently dined with Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner’s coach, who confirmed that the 22-year-old is in good spirits and highly motivated ahead of his return.
“Jannik is extremely motivated, fully focused, and mentally calm,” Volandri said. “But nothing replaces match adrenaline, so I don’t expect immediate wins. He needs match rhythm, and the more he plays, the sharper he’ll get for Paris.”
Sinner himself echoed this sentiment in an interview with Sky Sports Italia, noting that while the suspension was tough to accept, he’s feeling refreshed and eager to return.
“Obviously, I would have preferred to keep playing, but I’m doing well now,” Sinner said. “There’s still a bit of time to digest everything, but I’m excited for Rome. It’s a special tournament for me, even though it will be tough, especially with the spotlight already on me.”
On Alcaraz: ‘He Still Has Dips’
Volandri also weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner’s primary rival and current world No. 2, despite his recent win in Monte Carlo.
“Carlos deserved the win, but he still experiences drops in concentration,” said Volandri. “Sinner and others need to be ready to exploit those moments.”
Coming Soon: Sinner’s much-anticipated return at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome will offer fans their first look at the world No. 1 since January—and provide crucial preparation ahead of Roland Garros 2025.
