Former Italian ATP player Paolo Lorenzi, speaking to *Il Corriere dello Sport* in March 2025, shared tempered expectations for Jannik Sinner’s return to competitive tennis at the Italian Open in Rome, starting May 7, 2025, following a three-month doping suspension that ended on May 4. Lorenzi, a former world No. 33, cautioned fans against anticipating an immediate return to Sinner’s dominant form, emphasizing the challenge of regaining match rhythm after such a long hiatus. “It will definitely be a special moment. The Foro Italico will support him in every match and will reserve him a dream welcome,” Lorenzi said, acknowledging the emotional boost Sinner would receive from home fans. However, he added, “We will have to give him some time to recover the right automatisms, although fans expect him to compete for the title immediately in Rome. Three months without playing is quite a long time, despite the fact that he has been able to train.”
Lorenzi’s perspective highlights the difficulty Sinner faces, even as the world No. 1, in transitioning back to high-level competition on clay, his least favorable surface. Sinner’s only clay title came in Umag 2022, and his best Italian Open result was a 2022 quarterfinal. Despite Sinner’s 9-0 record in 2025, including a successful Australian Open title defense, Lorenzi believes the lack of recent match play could hinder instant success. Sinner has used the suspension to focus on physical conditioning, training with players like Lorenzo Sonego and Jack Draper, but Lorenzi suggests the Rome crowd’s support will be crucial as he rebuilds momentum for Roland Garros.[]
