“I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love,” Jannik Sinner said earlier this year, as he opted for an out-of-court settlement with WADA, accepting a 3-month ban. While the Italian denied any wrongdoing, he accepted the ban because he wanted to take full responsibility for the actions of his team. Sinner’s ex-fitness coach, Umberto Ferrera, had apparently bought a spray containing clostebol, which was used by the Italian’s now-sacked physio Giacomo Naldi to treat his own wounds before he gave Sinner a massage without gloves, causing the contamination. But well, all this is history now. With the Rome Masters on the horizon, it appears Sinner’s road to redemption has begun.

Jannik Sinner, the current world top seed, kicked off this season in a spectacular fashion, clinching his second straight AO title with a commanding straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev in the final. Riding high on momentum, Sinner was eyeing Doha’s Qatar Open for his next campaign when his fans were rocked by startling news. The doping controversy came to the fore again, with Italy’s golden boy sidelined from official action for 3 months. For someone used to the center stage, the sanction, though accepted with grace, was a heavy blow.

As part of the suspension, Sinner was confined to training solely at private venues, unable to step onto official courts or train with active players. That restriction lifted on Sunday, April 13, signaling the official countdown to his long-awaited comeback. In a quiet yet symbolic move, Sinner was recently spotted on the court again, training at the exclusive Monte Carlo Country Club: a private venue unaffiliated with the French Tennis Federation.

With the Rome Open looming, Sinner’s presence on court sparked a wave of excitement and anticipation across the tennis world. In that training session in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the Italian was seen rallying with the British No. 1, Jack Draper, exchanging powerful shots at the Tennis Club de Beaulieu, while a junior ITF tournament unfolded nearby. The footage was shared on X by We Are Tennis.

Draper and Sinner share more than just a baseline; they’ve played doubles together, bonded over off-court moments, and stood by each other in times of adversity. Draper’s visible support during Sinner’s troubled stretch added another layer to their friendship.

Though cameras missed the moment, reports suggest Sinner sparred with fellow Italian and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini earlier this week. The choice of training partner speaks volumes: Sinner isn’t just aiming to return; he’s aiming to rise, sharpened by sessions with the best. His time away from the limelight appears to have deepened his focus and resolve.

As the date for Rome approaches, Sinner has not hesitated to discuss the emotional impact of the scandal, as he recently expressed his opinion on the ban while revealing his emotions. 

“It was very difficult,” Jannik Sinner Opens Up About Doping Scandal Emotions Ahead of His Comeback

The tennis world was left reeling when Jannik Sinner, the sport’s rising star, got entangled in a doping scandal. Initially, there seemed to be a sense of relief, as an independent tribunal under the ITIA ruled that there was “no fault or negligence” on Sinner’s part. But that relief was short-lived. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), dissatisfied with the ruling, filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a suspension of up to two years. Just weeks before the scheduled trial, however, a surprising twist emerged: WADA and Sinner settled, with the Italian accepting a three-month ban starting in February.

Weeks after agreeing to that suspension, Sinner finally spoke out. In a candid interview with Sky Sport Italy, the 23-year-old revealed that the banned substance entered his body through accidental contamination. According to Sinner, “I was very fragile because things happened that I didn’t expect, unexpected reactions inside me. Otherwise, I would be lying. I would appear to be a person without feelings and emotions, without anything, but in life, you learn.”

Sinner continued, “It wasn’t easy; in fact, it was very difficult, but the people around me lifted my spirits; they gave me the strength to better understand what happened.”

The Rome Masters has never really been Jannik Sinner’s fortress. His best run came in 2022, when he reached the QFs before falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. Last year, a hip injury forced him to withdraw, leaving fans disappointed. But this time, the stakes are much higher.

Returning as the top seed, Sinner carries not only the weight of expectations but also the shadows of recent controversy. As the Rome crowd gets ready to rally behind their hometown hero, the question remains: can Sinner rise again?