Sinner wins Rome opener on return from doping ban
Jannik Sinner returned to the ATP circuit from his doping ban with a solid 6-3 6-4 victory at the Italian Open as he delighted his home support with victory over Mariano Navone.
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Still the world No.1, Sinner produced an impressive second-round display to win in a one hour, 38 minutes victory at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Sinner said after returning from more than three months off the circuit.
“I waited quite long for this moment. I’m very happy to be back. It’s very difficult to have the right feedback when you don’t have any matches, and that’s exactly what I need. Now I think the best practice is the match itself, so I’m very happy about that.
“I’m very happy about the win today. It was very difficult. He is such a great player, especially on this surface. I tried to move around the ball. At times it went very well, at times it could have been better, yes, but in any case, it doesn’t matter about the result today. It has been a remarkable day for me, so I’m very happy.
“I was surprised how things can [feel good] so quickly. I tried to give everything I have. I think that’s the only thing I can do and that’s the only thing I can control right now.
“The sensation felt quite good, to be honest. Of course, there were some ups and downs, that is normal, but he played some great tennis, especially when he broke me in the second set. I tried to accept that and tried to work again. Now I have some good feedback, and hopefully I can work with that.”
Sinner took a few games to find his rhythm and had to save a break point to hold serve from 30/40 for 2-1.
But he calmed any early nerves inside Campo Centrale by promptly breaking Navone’s serve for 3-1.
After taking the first set without any further scares on serve, Sinner was soon on the path to victory after he again broke through on return in the seventh game of the second set.
But Navone capitalised on some forehand errors from his opponent to earn his first break of serve in the match for 4-4.
Sinner’s response was swift, however, and the Italian immediately reeled off the two games he needed to complete the win.
