Jannik Sinner Set to Return at Italian Open After Three-Month Ban

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner returns to tennis at the Italian Open after serving a three-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance clostebol, a sanction that some critics have called lenient compared to punishments faced by other players. Despite his suspension, Sinner retained his top ranking and will enter the Rome tournament as the top seed, buoyed by home support and a strong record, having not lost an ATP Tour match in over 200 days. His comeback is seen as a highlight in a broader golden era for Italian tennis, with several compatriots also achieving notable successes during his absence. Fellow players and coaches have remarked that Sinner appears to have maintained his high level of play, with practice partners noting little sign of rust. There is anticipation around whether Sinner can immediately regain his dominance, with his last loss coming in October 2024 against Carlos Alcaraz, one of his chief rivals. The Italian tennis federation credits Sinner’s rise to a long-term, decentralized developmental approach that is now yielding results across the sport.