Jannik Sinner predicts sad how the French Open crowd will treat him in 2025, after his doping ban
Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 and top seed at the 2025 French Open, has anticipated a different reception from the Roland Garros crowd compared to the warm welcome he received at the Italian Open, hinting at potential challenges due to his recent doping controversy. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference on May 23, 2025, as reported by The Tennis Gazette, Sinner acknowledged the unique atmosphere in Paris, stating, “Different moment, because whatever happened happened, so let’s see,” when asked about crowd expectations. He added, “I know that, but I don’t think they have anything against me. It’s right that they support the players who are from here, who are local here,” suggesting he expects vocal support for French players but not outright hostility.[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/jannik-sinner-predicts-how-the-french-open-crowd-will-treat-him-in-2025-its-definitely-going-to-be-different/)
Sinner’s comments come in the context of his three-month WADA suspension for testing positive for clostebol in March 2024, which ended on May 4, 2025, and stirred polarized reactions. His dominant return at the Italian Open, where he reached the final and lost to Carlos Alcaraz (6-7, 1-6), was met with a “hero’s welcome” from Italian fans, per The Tennis Gazette. However, Andy Roddick warned on his *Served* podcast that the French crowd, known for its intensity, might not be as forgiving, predicting they “will boo you” due to the doping saga, a sentiment echoed by Tennis365.com. Sinner’s draw, starting with France’s Arthur Rinderknech on May 25 and potentially facing Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Arthur Fils early, means he’ll likely encounter passionate local support for his opponents, amplifying crowd dynamics.[]
Despite this, Sinner remains unfazed, leveraging his 18-match winning streak against French players, including 2024 Roland Garros wins over Richard Gasquet (6-4, 6-2, 6-4) and Corentin Moutet (2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1). “I know what to expect,” he said, per The Tennis Gazette, drawing on his 2024 semifinal run, where he lost to Alcaraz in five sets. Posts on X, like @tennisweeklypod, note his mental preparation, while @TheTennisLetter suggests his familiarity with Parisian crowds could help. With a 93% win probability against Rinderknech, per Stats Insider, Sinner’s focus is on performance, but the crowd’s reaction could test his resilience.
