World No 1 Jannik Sinner is nearing his return to competitive tennis after serving a suspension—and he admits the time away from the sport “helped me a lot.”
Sinner has not played a professional match since January 26, when he defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets to successfully defend his Australian Open title. Shortly after his third Grand Slam triumph, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced a three-month suspension for Sinner after two positive tests for the banned substance Clostebol in March 2024.
The ban officially began on February 9, and Sinner is set to return on May 4 at the Italian Open. He has also signed up for the Hamburg Open to prepare for the French Open, which kicks off on May 25.
The 23-year-old knows regaining form won’t be easy:
“We’re training very, very hard. Hopefully, we’ll get some momentum going ahead of the clay season. It certainly won’t be easy for me,” he told ORF Südtirol.
During his suspension, WADA regulations prevented Sinner from training with his coaches, Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, until April 13. However, his team crafted a comprehensive plan to keep him active, both mentally and physically. His fitness trainer, Marco Panichi, revealed that Sinner “rediscovered himself,” engaging in activities like skiing, attending fashion shows, and visiting museums.
Despite his absence, Sinner has retained the world No 1 ranking, with both Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz missing opportunities to surpass him in the ATP standings.
Reflecting on his time away, Sinner said:
“The first few weeks were actually quite nice.
A bit of time away from the grind—I spent time with family and friends, tried new activities, and learned more about myself. It helped me a lot.”
Sinner is aware there will be immediate pressure when he returns:
“The first matches will be really difficult. But hopefully, I’ll find my rhythm again. Then we’ll see how it goes.”
