Overview

• Jannik Sinner is set to face Mariano Navone in the second round of the Italian Open after a first-round bye, marking his return to professional tennis.
• Sinner served a three-month suspension after testing positive for clostebol, which was determined to be caused by inadvertent contamination.
• Despite his hiatus, Sinner has retained the ATP World No. 1 ranking, maintaining a significant lead over Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
• Sinner has emphasized low expectations for the tournament, citing the need to evaluate his form and regain match sharpness after the break.
• The case has reignited scrutiny of anti-doping policies, with figures like Patrick Mouratoglou criticizing enforcement inconsistencies and supporting Sinner’s innocence.