'At the start I was a bit confused ': Jannik Sinner opens up on doping ban

Jannik Sinner , the world's top-ranked tennis player , has opened up about his three-month doping ban experience that ended Monday, describing feelings of confusion and loss during his forced break from tennis. The ban, which resulted from a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February, allowed him to return just in time for his home tournament, the Italian Open .

Sinner arrived at the Italian Open on the day his ban expired, marking Italy's first-ever No. 1 player at their home tournament.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.

"At the start I was a bit confused because I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do," Sinner said Monday upon his arrival. "Then I went home and stayed with my family. I tried to understand better what was really important to me. I know how many sacrifices I made and my daily routine was always practice, practice, practice. But at that moment I didn't have any of that. I came to understand that what's important to me are the people by your side. That they give you the strength to move forward and continue smiling."

During his time away from tennis, Sinner spent time with family in northern Italy's Alto Adige region and friends in Monaco, engaging in other sports like cycling before gradually returning to tennis training.

"We went about a month without touching (a racket) and then we restarted really softly," Sinner said. "When we started pushing more, blisters developed on my hands. That was something I hadn't experienced in a long time."

The settlement came after WADA appealed an International Tennis Integrity Agency decision that had initially exonerated Sinner for what was deemed an accidental steroid contamination in March 2024.

"I didn't want to do it in the beginning, and also it was a bit not easy for me to accept it, because I know what really happened," Sinner said of the ban. "But sometimes we have to choose the best in a very bad moment, and that's what we did. So it's all over now. So I'm happy to play tennis again."

Who's that IPL player?

The timing of the ban has raised questions as it allows Sinner to compete in the Italian Open and not miss any Grand Slams, with the French Open starting May 25.

Serena Williams criticized the lenient treatment in a Time magazine interview, stating, "I would have gotten 20 years" if involved in a similar case. "Let's be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me."

Regarding other players' reactions, Sinner said, "I just arrived 45 minutes ago. I haven't seen so many (other players). It's all fine at the moment, but I haven't seen most of them."

Sinner's return has generated significant attention in Italy. He was scheduled for an open practice session on Campo Centrale, expected to draw 10,500 spectators and receive live television coverage.

Before his practice, Sinner was to be honored alongside his Davis Cup teammates and Billie Jean King Cup players following Italy's victories in both team competitions last year.

Having not played since winning his second consecutive Australian Open title in January, Sinner will return to competition Friday or Saturday against either Mariano Navone or Federico Cinà after a first-round bye.

"It's a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me," Sinner said. "It's a very strange feeling again in the beginning to be around so many people and attention. But it's nice to be back."

No Italian man has won the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.