BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: Sinner makes triumphant return from doping ban
'It's an amazing feeling. It's a special feeling. I never take things for granted. And yeah, I'm just happy to be back.'
Jannik Sinner delivers a strong performance, booking a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mariano Navone in the Italian Open, his first ever game since being slapped with a three-month doping ban.
MARCO BERTORELLO/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Jannik Sinner made no mistake on his return to tennis on Saturday after a three-month doping ban, sweeping aside Mariano Navone in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 at the Italian Open in front of thrilled fans in Rome.
World No. 1 Sinner cruised past Argentina's Navone in one hour and 39 minutes in front of over 10,000 supporters at the Foro Italico to set up a third-round clash with lucky loser Jesper de Jong.
The Italian had not played since winning the Australian Open in January due to the suspension he accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) the following month.
He twice tested positive for traces of banned substance clostebol in March last year, although WADA accepted that the 23-year-old had been accidentally contaminated by his physiotherapist.
And Sinner delighted a partisan and packed center court in the Italian capital, shaking off the cobwebs as he eyes a run at Roland Garros later this month.
"I tried to give everything I have, you know, I think that's the only thing I can do. That's the only thing I can control right now." Sinner said.
"It's an amazing feeling. It's a special feeling. I never take things for granted. And yeah, I'm just happy to be back."
The three-time Grand Slam winner's last clay court match was his epic semifinal defeat to rival Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open, and while the crowd matched such a big occasion on Saturday, the tennis did not.
Alcaraz was a short walk away at the Stadio Olimpico to watch his footballer friend Patric play for Lazio while Sinner took on world No. 99 Navone.
And the Spaniard, who faces Laslo Djere on Sunday night, would not have been surprised to hear that Sinner dealt with Navone in a perfunctory, unflashy manner to begin his comeback in style.
It was a good day for Italian fans who also watched Rome-born Matteo Berrettini beat Jacob Fearnley in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in his first match at his home tournament in four years.
Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, who withdrew from the Madrid Open with the latest in a long line of abdominal injuries, will face Madrid champion Casper Ruud in the third round with the Norwegian beating Alexander Bublik 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Women's sixth seed Jasmine Paolini made it a hat-trick of Italian wins by sweeping aside Ons Jabeur in straight sets to set up a last 16 clash with Jelena Ostapenko.