Jannik Sinner's doping ban expires as mammoth Italian Open reception awaits world No.1
The conclave to elect a new pope isn’t the only international event attracting visitors to Rome this week, with the return of top-ranked tennis superstar Jannik Sinner from a doping ban at the Italian Open stirring up plenty of attention.
It will mark the first time that Italy has had a No.1 player for its home tournament.
Every move that Sinner makes is being documented with the sort of detail reserved for cardinals moving around the Vatican before the conclave starts this week.
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The ban, which was agreed on in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, expired on Monday and Sinner is now scheduled to hold an open practice session that is expected to attract a sold out crowd of 10,500 spectators.
It will be broadcast live on Italian TV.
Jannik Sinner will return this week. Eddie Jim
Before the practice session, Sinner is to be honoured alongside Davis Cup teammates and the Billie Jean King Cup players after Italy swept both titles last year.
Sinner hasn’t played since winning a second-straight Australian Open in January.
The settlement in the doping case was made in February, after WADA appealed a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to fully exonerate Sinner for what it deemed to be an accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid.
The settlement raised questions, since it conveniently allows Sinner to return at his home tournament and not miss any grand slams.
The upcoming Italian Open is the last big clay-court tournament before the French Open — the year’s second major — starts on May 25.
Many fellow pros feel that Sinner was treated too lightly, but there likely won’t be much criticism in Rome - especially since his main detractor Nick Kyrgios is not competing.
Nick Kyrgios has been outspoken regarding Jannik Sinner. Getty
Kyrgios hasn’t played the Italian Open since he threw a chair onto the red clay in a fit of rage during a 2019 match and was defaulted from the tournament.
Sinner, who has a first-round bye, will be play his opening match on Saturday (AEST).
The last Italian man to win the title in Rome was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
