Top seed and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner marked his return to the ATP Tour in commanding fashion, defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Italian Open on Saturday.
The match, played on the clay courts of Rome, was Sinner’s first competitive appearance following a three-month doping suspension.
The 22-year-old Italian had been serving a ban imposed after he tested positive for the anabolic agent clostebol in March 2024. Sinner accepted a case resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in February, which resulted in a retroactive suspension that concluded on May 5. With the ban now behind him, Sinner returned to the court eager to re-establish his rhythm and competitive edge.
Despite the controversy surrounding his absence, Sinner showed little sign of rust in his comeback. As the top seed in Rome, he received a first-round bye and made his seasonal clay debut directly in the second round. In the opening set, he took early control with a 4-2 lead, confidently holding serve to take the set 6-3.
The second set was more contested, with both players holding serve until 3-3. Sinner demonstrated resilience and focus by converting his fourth break point in the seventh game. Although Navone responded by breaking back immediately, Sinner raised his level again, breaking once more and then closing out the set and match with a composed service game.
Speaking to the media after his win, Sinner expressed satisfaction with his preparation but acknowledged the importance of competitive feedback. “We prepared in the best possible way. But of course, nothing replaces the feedback you get from real matches. Now I have a better idea of what’s working and what needs improvement,” he said.
Sinner emphasized that his goal for this tournament is to build momentum and measure his form by winning another match or two. He is set to face Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong in the third round as he continues his campaign on home soil.
The Italian crowd will be watching closely to see if Sinner, despite recent setbacks, can recapture the form that made him world No. 1.