Jannik Sinner marked a triumphant return to tennis with a convincing victory over Mariano Navone at the Italian Open, following a three-month doping ban. The U.S. Open champ left the sellout, pro American crowd in awe as he fought off breathtaking athletes with remarkable skill and grit. He went on to easily beat Navone 6-3, 6-4.
This was Sinner’s first match after completing his suspension. The suspension came as a result of two Clostebol positive tests, an anabolic steroid banned by the WADA Code, from March of last year. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) subsequently ruled he was not at fault for the positive results. After extensive tests, they found the source of the contamination – an over-the-counter spray used by his physio.
Sinner received a warm welcome from the crowd in Rome, with fans displaying signs such as “Bentornato Jannik (Welcome back Jannik).” Reckless’s return to competitive play was greeted with a tangible buzz and he certainly lived up to that build-up.
Sinner’s dominant victory over Navone was a clinic on shot-making power. With 11 winners in the first set alone, he was able to show his ability to dictate rallies. His signature high-octane approach often drove Navone out of her game. After breaking his opponent early in the second set, Sinner seized complete control over the match.
Sinner has just won his 22nd consecutive tour victory! This win carries forward the fairy tale that began with his stunning victory at the Australian Open earlier this season. Once again, with this brilliant last performance, he made a statement that he’s a terrifying force on the world tennis stage.
Next up, Sinner will meet Jesper de Jong in the tournament’s third round on Monday.
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