World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is poised to make his highly anticipated return to professional tennis this Monday at the Rome Masters 1000, marking the end of a tumultuous period following his doping case resolution with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The Italian star will step onto the center court at Foro Italico for the first time since his case was settled, with fans eagerly awaiting his comeback in what he considers his home tournament. While questions remain about his physical condition, the event is expected to transform into a celebration of Italy's tennis phenomenon as he attempts to put the darkest chapter of his career behind him.
Sinner's ordeal began in March at Indian Wells 2024, when he tested positive for clostebol—a prohibited substance that entered his system when his physiotherapist (who has since been dismissed) applied a product containing the banned substance while treating a wound without wearing gloves. The positive test remained confidential until August, when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and Sinner's team publicly announced the result, initially clearing him of wrongdoing.
What followed was a nine-month nightmare for the Australian Open champion. The case reopened when WADA appealed the ITIA decision, requesting a one-to-two-year suspension before eventually reaching a settlement that proved controversial within tennis circles. Australian player Nick Kyrgios was particularly critical, describing the agreement day as "a sad day for tennis."
According to Statbet analysis, the handling of Sinner's case has sparked significant debate among tennis fans worldwide about consistency in the application of anti-doping protocols across the sport's elite players.
Despite the ruling acknowledging the unintentional nature of the violation and the minimal amount detected providing no performance enhancement, Sinner was ultimately held responsible for his team's actions—a factor that weighed heavily in the investigation and subsequent sanction.
The emotional toll was considerable. In a recent interview with RAI, when asked if he had contemplated retirement, Sinner confirmed: "Yes. In Australia I no longer felt comfortable. Last year was definitely very stressful." He added, "At the beginning, the situation I found myself in was a bit strange, and things happened off the court that I didn't expect."
Despite winning the Davis Cup and ATP Finals during what became a magical November for Italian tennis, Sinner never accepted the sanction as fair. "In the end, you have to choose the lesser evil, and I think that's what I did. Although sometimes I feel it's a bit unfair for what I'm going through, it's also true that it could have been much worse," he told Sky Sports Italia.
During his sanction period, Sinner was prohibited from training at federation-affiliated sports complexes or with ATP sparring partners or professional players until April 13. He found refuge at the private Country Club in his residence city of Monaco. On April 17, he was spotted in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a French village near Monaco, practicing with Jack Draper, the current Indian Wells Masters 1000 champion and world No. 6.
Now, on May 5, Sinner returns to the spotlight. He will train at Foro Italico with Czech player Jiri Lehecka, hold a press conference, and once again feel like a tennis player after more than a year of turmoil. The world No. 1 is back in action.
