Jannik Sinner praised the passionate support he received from his colorful support in Rome after his return to tennis on Saturday with a confident victory to the Italy Open. The world’s number one sinner swept through Mariano Navone in front of more than 10,000 fans in Foro Italico, not resembling a player who spent three months getting out of the game due to a doping prohibition which he reluctantly said accepted by the World Anti -Doping Agency. The Italian was roaring by fans disguised as carrots and orange adorned in honor of his hair with ginger, while he was beating Navone in the straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
“It was incredible to go back to the court after so long, having great support also in the last days. From the first day I came here, it was incredible,” said Sinner to journalists.
“It means much more than any result, to be honest. It was an incredible feeling to come here, from the first training sessions with other players.”
The sinner admitted that he had fought against nerves and doubts about his preparation before his return from a forced absence which started in February, almost a year after having tested twice positive for the traces of prohibited substance Clostebol.
Wada accepted that the sinner had been accidentally contaminated by his physiotherapist and there was never any indication that he tried to cheat.
“I have doubts. I had doubts before leaving for the court today. I have doubts now what will happen in the next match,” said Sinner.
“But we have to live with doubts because it means you really care, that you want to improve, that you want to show yourself, that you want to do something special.”
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Sinner insisted that he was just hoping to rediscover his best form in Rome, after saying to the victory on Saturday that his real target was the French Open later this month.
“I have the impression that we have prepared in the best possible way. Of course, I was missing the comments of official matches, which are the best comments we can get,” he said.
“At least now, I have a bigger image of what I do well and what I need to improve. Of course, the nerves and everything, he must resume my body, trying to understand what we can do better the next round.
“But yes, I hope I can play one or two more games here to see where I am, which would be my main goal. So everything else is just a positive.”
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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