Jannik Sinner has hailed his winning return to action as “an incredible moment” after his adoring fans in Rome cheered him to victory at the Italian Open following the end of his three-month doping ban.
The world No.1, playing his first match since winning the Australian Open in January, took no time to get back into the winning groove at the Foro Italico on Saturday, defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3 6-4 in their second-round encounter.
Playing in front of a cheering 10,500 crowd in his home tournament, the 23-year-old, who had been given a bye in his opening match, looked almost as if he’d never been away as he earned victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve waited quite long for this moment. I’m very happy to be back,” Sinner said afterwards.
“It was an incredible moment for me, going again on court.
“I tried to prepare myself in the best way and control my mental thing in the best way, which I did, so I am very happy about that.”
Sinner broke once as he took the first set in 40 minutes against the world No.99 Navone, who then offered sterner resistance in the second before Sinner closed out his first match in more than 100 days with the orange-clad crowd on Campo Centrale serenading him with cries of “Ole, ole, ole, Sin-ner, Sin-ner!”
“The crowd was incredible,” Sinner said. “They always give me strength to continue even in tough times. So it was a very, very special moment.”
The win extended Sinner’s winning streak to 22 matches, dating back to last October — a reminder of his dominance before February when he agreed to the three-month ban in a controversial settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The ban had raised plenty of questions – and frustration among critics like Australian Nick Kyrgios – as it conveniently allowed him not to miss any grand slams tournaments and return just in time for the French Open.
Sinner will next face 93rd-ranked Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong, who beat 25th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-0 6-2.
© AAP
