He is back on the circuit. Controlled positive with clostebol, a substance prohibited by the world Anti -doping Agency (AMA), in March 2024, Jannik Sinner finds the circuit, at the Masters 1000 in Rome, which begins Wednesday, May 7, on its land, after three months of suspension (from February 9 to May 4, 2025). The Italian who, despite his forced distance from the courts, is still world number 1 with 1,645 points ahead of his runner -up Alexander Zverev, has not played the slightest match since his title at the Australian Open, on January 26. Absent last year of the Roman tournament, he has no point to defend and therefore everything to win in front of his audience.
A cut synonymous with loss of rhythm that could penalize him for his recovery, according to Guy forget, former world number 4 and consultant for France Télévisions. “With such a long judgment, even if he trains and he plays, the sequence of matches will miss, like the confidence linked to the victories that we accumulate over the tournaments”, he believes. An opinion shared by Arnaud Clément, ex-Top 10 and consultant for Franceinfo: Sport.
“It is often said that nothing replaces the competition. You can train for five hours a day, and when you go back to competition, your body will not necessarily react in the same way as to training. And it is true that three months of stopping, it will be a little different for him”, underlines Arnaud Clément. “I really don’t have a lot of waiting, I want to find the feelings of the competition, see my level,” also conceded Jannik Sinner on Tuesday at a press conference.
Beyond the rhythm, the Italian will also have to manage the mental aspect of this recovery in a context of suspension for doping, the case of which has been widely publicized far beyond the tennis sphere. One of his last speeches also suggests that he has been psychologically affected. “Once this decision is made [de suspension]I took a little time to find myself. Other things have happened, beyond this case, which have not been simple for me, it will still take me a little time to digest all this, but I am there “, had entrusted Jannik Sinner on April 5 in an interview with Sky Sport.
“There have been a certain number of controversies, certain reactions from the players, who were not targeted against sinner directly, but rather on the authorities and the way in which they managed the situation”, observes Arnaud Clément.
“Being again in front of the public in this context may not be easy to manage. Perhaps not at home in Rome, but in Roland-Garros, it can be something else.”
Arnaud Clément, former 10th worldwideIn Franceinfo: Sport
“LOnly uncertainty is based on the fact that he takes up in Rome, where he is expected, Analysis in turn Paul-Henri Mathieu, ex-12th in the world. He knows that he will be even more watched. He will have to manage this expectation around him. We must not forget that he is so young, even if he has experience. ” If he manages to go beyond, “He can play well right away. I would not be surprised if he did it right away, or even surprised that he wins the tournament”, Bets the captain of the French Davis Cup team. “My goal is Roland-Garros, assured Italian. I’m here to see where I am, to try to pass my first round, not to beat everyone, we’ll see after this first match where it will take me. “
-Paul-Henri Mathieu is not the only one to see him win quickly, as his tennis level is above the others. “He is able to win Roland-Garros this year, confirms Arnaud Clément. He will have had a little different time to prepare. I always say the same thing about the immense champions, and Jannik sinner in fact necessarily part, it is that they are better than the others to adapt to the different situations they meet during their career. “
This time excluding circuit could even give it an advantage over its competitors, especially on its freshness. The passage on the ocher, which arrives very quickly after the American tour, often leaves traces to the players going far in the tables to Indian Wells, and Miami.
“When you played well in Miami, you have very shortly before the start of the clay. You are barely recovering from the jet lag, you will type three times on Earth and then you are led to play high level matches.”
Arnaud Clément, former captain of the French Davis Cup teamIn Franceinfo: Sport
“Jannik Sinner was not confronted with this this year, he continues. He was able to work on land and technical points. It is very rare to have time to work on these points during the season. He was also able to Prepare your body quietly for clay and its specificities. “ What, despite the context, get out of the game.
His recovery in Rome will allow him to find sensations and gain power before the highlight of the season on earth at Roland-Garros. According to his career in Italy, he will also have the opportunity to line up in Geneva (ATP 250) or Hamburg (ATP 500) to find a little more Rhythm before Paris. “IL is not safe, on a third round, faced with a player who has nothing to lose, to start badly, to frustrate and be surprised for lack of rhythm “, nuance Guy Forget, while ensuring that it is not “Worried in his ability to regain headlines fairly quickly”.
These first days in Rome will undoubtedly give a trend as to its capacities less than three weeks from the next Grand Slam.
