“I cannot control the players’ reaction, and if I have something to say to someone, I go there privately because I’m this kind of person,” Jannik Sinner said during the 2024 US Open when his doping controversy first broke. This statement set the tone for his approach to the situation. Months later, WADA announced his ban from February 9 to May 4. Despite his silence, others have been vocal—critics like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev have weighed in on the perceived unfair treatment compared to lower-ranked players. This debate has gone on for a while, but now his return is inching closer. What message does he have for his rivals who’ve had the chance to surpass him during his absence?
Sinner, after a tumultuous period, reflected on his return to tennis. Following a doping case where he was initially cleared by the ITIA for “no fault or negligence,” WADA resurfaced the case to be appealed to CAS with a probable suspension of up to two years. However, he received a three-month ban and missed crucial tournaments like the Middle East swing and the Sunshine Double. In an exclusive interview with SkySports, he was asked how the other players would react to his return. He stated, “I don’t know how other players will react. I know what happened, and I know I am innocent.” Is this confidence or humility?
Jannik added, “I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to play tennis and be serene. That’s the end of the story. So, I am sure all will go well, even if at the beginning it will take a while to start over. These are questions I don’t know how to answer.”
Jannik Sinner was asked how he thinks other players will react when he makes his return to tennis:
“I can’t answer this question as I don’t know what could happen. I know how things went, I know I am innocent.”
“I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to… pic.twitter.com/2J2zZZHzlB
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 5, 2025
His last match was during the Australian Open, where he reigned as a two-time champion despite battling fatigue and illness. For someone who has held a winning streak since the Shanghai Masters in October, Jannik is counting down the time to his return to competitive tennis. “Why? Because I stopped doing what I always dreamed of doing. I am in the best position to play this sport,” he said.
At just 23, Jannik has three major titles, with a total of 19 titles under his belt. Even before he received the offer from WADA for his ban, he won the Australian Open right after coming back from his off-season, which proves his dominance. Despite missing key events like the Indian Wells and Miami Open, Sinner remains the world’s top player. His absence hasn’t significantly altered the ATP rankings; he still leads Alexander Zverev by 2,685 points and Carlos Alcaraz by 3,610. He is still the World No.1 for 43 weeks now.
The Italian has been vocal about the challenges in the beginning, dealing with the anxiety of the situation. However, now two months into his ban, he’s feeling “better physically and mentally.” He noted, “Even if there is still time, it is a good opportunity for me to improve in those areas in which I had difficulties, on a surface on which I struggle. So, let’s try to do something different. Hopefully it works otherwise we will have more time to try again.” This period of reflection has given him a chance to reassess his game and prepare for his comeback.
On the other hand, while Sinner is looking forward to his return, some former pros claim that he’ll be dominating the court right off the bat.
Jannik gets the support of former pros as his comeback inches closer
Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension might seem like a setback, but former world No. 6 Gilles Simon sees it as a strategic advantage. “It’s a three-month suspension where he’s practicing, so basically it’s a three-month preparation,” Simon told Tennis365 on April 2. “He’s going to play a bit to find the rhythm again, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to find it quickly.” This downtime has allowed Sinner to heal and prepare, setting him up for a strong comeback.
Sinner’s grit is well-documented. Last year, he battled through a wrist injury to win the US Open semifinals against Jack Draper and claim the title. Simon believes this break could be a blessing in disguise: “He’s healthy, he had time to also maybe heal the parts of the body that maybe needed some work on it. Any work he had to do, he had time to do it.”
Former Italian pro Adriano Panatta agrees, saying, “Jannik Sinner is ready for Rome, a break can sometimes do good… I am convinced that Jannik has used this period to improve his game on clay and has not lost his physical shape, they tell me that he has trained a lot and fortunately, he has also maintained the top of the rankings,” as he shared with La Gazzetta dello Sport on April 1.
As his return nears, the tennis world is buzzing with anticipation. Will he pick up where he left off, or will his rivals seize the opportunity to close the gap? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
The post “End of the Story” – Jannik Sinner Breaks Silence on His Long-Awaited Comeback and How Rivals May React appeared first on EssentiallySports.
