Paolini on Sinner's Return: "Jannik's Case Made Us All Reflect a Bit"
On the occasion of the Rome Masters 1000, ATP world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is making his comeback after a three-month suspension.
Cheered by Italian fans as he stepped onto the court for his training session earlier this week, the two-time Australian Open champion was eagerly awaited by his home crowd.
Sinner has played only one tournament in 2025—Melbourne, where he defeated his ATP-ranked rival Alexander Zverev to claim the title.
Before opening his tournament against Mariano Navone or Federico Cina, the Italian appeared at a press conference where he explained how he stayed in shape during the past three months. Asked about the topic in front of the media, Jasmine Paolini expressed her joy at her compatriot's return to competition.
"I met Jannik yesterday, and I’m happy to see him back on tour. What happened was a strange controversy. I firmly believe his suspension was unfair. His absence didn’t help anyone.
I think he’s an incredible player and didn’t deserve this. He’s also an amazing person. What happened scared everyone because we undergo anti-doping tests all year, and contamination is frightening.
We can’t control everything we do, eat, or touch. For example, a fan asking for a high-five might have something on their hands.
It’s scary. Jannik’s case made us all reflect a bit. They should change the rules, as WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) announced—maybe something could have been done sooner," explained the world No. 5, who will face Lulu Sun in her opening match in Rome, for Tennis World Italia.
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