World No.1 Jannik Sinner has addressed speculation about his personal life as he prepares to return to competitive tennis at the Italian Open following a three-month suspension.
Sinner, back on court after serving a ban for inadvertently ingesting a banned substance, received a hero’s welcome in Rome. Around 5,000 fans gathered to watch his practice session ahead of his highly anticipated return.
He has been drawn on the same side of the bracket as Australian star Alex de Minaur, with a potential semi-final clash looming. De Minaur, ranked World No.8, has yet to defeat Sinner in ten attempts, but his recent strong form and Sinner’s lack of match play may present a new opportunity.
Speaking at a press conference, Sinner sought to temper expectations:
“Last year was very difficult. I had a lot of pressure and couldn’t talk to many people about it. A three-month break was helpful. I need matches to get a real sense of where my level is.”
Sinner also addressed recent rumors linking him to Russian model Lara Leito, after the two were seen together in Monte Carlo.
“There’s been a lot of attention, even off the court. I saw some pictures. Nothing serious—I’m not in a relationship,” he clarified.
Sinner previously dated Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, but the pair reportedly split last year.
As Sinner eases back into competition, the spotlight remains fixed on both his on-court performance and personal life—though the 23-year-old appears focused solely on reclaiming top form in front of his home crowd.
