In the Rome tournament, the world’s number one tennis player, Jannik Sinner, had a triumphant return after a three-month suspension. He defeated Mariano Navone, who holds the 99th position in the ranking, with a score of 6-3 and 6-4, before an enthusiastic local audience.
This match marked Sinner’s return to competition after more than 100 days, since he obtained his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
Sinner’s performance showed little sign of inactivity, displaying a solid game from the start. The crowd, present in the Campo Centrale, celebrated each point, chanting and showing their support for the tennis player.
The victory extended Sinner’s winning streak to 22 matches, counting from October.
In February, Sinner accepted a three-month suspension, which raised questions, as it allowed him to participate in the home tournament without missing any Grand Slam.
The agreement was reached after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed a decision that exonerated Sinner for alleged accidental contamination with an anabolic steroid in March 2024.
Despite the criticism, the public at the Foro Italico showed unconditional support for Sinner, who remains Italy’s most popular athlete.
His only moment of weakness came at the end of the second set, but he managed to recover and secure the victory.
In his next match, Sinner will face Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong.
