Jannik Sinner Returns to Court After Doping Ban: 'I'm Not Afraid'
Jannik Sinner expressed his eagerness to return to the court at the Italian Open after serving a three-month doping ban. The world number one, who has previously claimed victory at the US Open and twice at the Australian Open, conveyed his relief at being back in action during a press conference at the Internationali BNL di Roma.
"I spoke to some players and everything went well; it's a strange feeling to start again but it's nice. I'm not afraid to go on court. I'm just happy to be here," Sinner said, displaying a positive outlook as he prepares to restart his professional career.
The ban, which stemmed from an inadvertent usage of the banned steroid clostebol, has forced Sinner to isolate himself from competitive tennis. Reflecting on this period, he noted, "Tennis is so individual; there is no team, and everyone has their own things to manage. In the end, I hardly spoke to anyone."
Despite the isolation, Sinner maintained contact with a select few friends, including Britain's number one player Jack Draper. "I spoke a little with Jack and also with Lorenzo Sonego, who are great friends," he added.
While he did not engage in video calls with other players during his ban, Sinner remains optimistic. "Everything will be fine. With time, everything passes," he concluded, signaling his readiness to move forward.
As Sinner steps back into the competitive arena, the tennis world watches closely, eager to see how he will perform after overcoming such a challenging period.
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