World No. 1 Jannik Sinner enjoyed a victorious return to tennis after his three-month doping suspension as he reached the third round of the Italian Open in Rome. The 23-year-old top seed, playing his first match since winning a second Australian Open title, defeated Mariano Navone in straight sets – 6-3 6-4 – at his home tournament, and he faces the Dutchman Jesper de Jong next.
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Jannik Sinner, Roma 2025
Image credit: Getty Images
Jannik Sinner returned to tennis with a win as he beat Mariano Navone at the Italian Open.
The world No. 1 was playing his first match since coming back from a three-month suspension that he agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after he tested positive for a banned substance.
Sinner was playing in his home tournament for the first time in two years after a hip injury ruled him out of the 2024 event.
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The No. 1 seed came through his Argentine opponent 6-3 6-4, with the 23-year-old having not played a competitive match since he lifted a second Australian Open trophy earlier this year.
Sinner was put under pressure straight away as he fended off a break point, and he responded well to break Navone in the next game, winning the first set in 42 minutes, hitting 11 winners.
In the second, Navone, the world No. 99, intensified the pressure once more, threatening another break, before he followed through as both traded service breaches at 4-4.
Sinner broke again to go up 5-4, and he converted his first match point with a thumping ace down the T to seal his spot in the third round, where he faces Jesper de Jong.
Speaking afterwards, Sinner called his return to the sport he tops as “a remarkable day”.
“Amazing feeling, I’ve waited quite long for this moment,” he said. “I am very happy to be back.
“It’s very hard to have the right feedback when you don’t have matches, but that’s exactly what I need. Now I think the best practice is the match itself so I’m very happy about that.
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Sinner reflects on a ‘remarkable day’ on return to tennis – ‘An amazing feeling’
Video credit: SNTV
“I’m very happy about the win today. It has been very difficult. He’s such a great player, especially on this surface. I tried to move around the ball, at times it went very well but it could have been better.
“But in any case it doesn’t matter about the result. Today has been a remarkable day so I’m very happy.
“Especially on Centre Court, in the night session, it’s an amazing feeling and a special feeling and I never take things for granted. I’m just happy to be back.”
You can watch all the action from the 2025 French Open live in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+.
