Jannik Sinner says he was left misplaced and confused after being handed a three-month doping ban.
The three-time Grand Slam champion agreed a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Company in February after authorities accepted the anabolic agent clostebol had entered his system through massages from his physiotherapist.
“At the start I was a bit confused because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” Sinner mentioned Monday – the day the ban expired – upon his arrival on the Italian Open.
“Then I went home and stayed with my family. I tried to understand better what was important to me.
“I understand how many sacrifices I made and my day by day routine was at all times apply, apply, apply. However at that second I did not have any of that.
“I came to understand that what’s important to me are the people by your side. That they give you the strength to move forward and continue smiling.”
Sinner, who has not been on court docket since profitable the Australian Open in January, returned to coaching on April 13 forward of the lifting of his served suspension on Could 4.
The 23-year-old returns to the court docket for the primary time in three months at this week’s Italian Open – dwell on Sky Sports activities.
The Italian Open is the final massive clay-court event earlier than the French Open – the 12 months’s second Grand Slam – begins on Could 25.
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Jannik Sinner says his three-month doping ban was unfair as a result of he’s harmless.
“I didn’t want to do it in the beginning, and also it was a bit not easy for me to accept it, because I know what really happened,” Sinner mentioned of the ban.
“But sometimes we have to choose the best in a very bad moment, and that’s what we did. So, it’s all over now. So, I’m happy to play tennis again.”
Regardless of lacking out on three months’ motion, Sinner was assured of retaining the highest rating for his house event after his closest challenger, Alexander Zverev, crashed to an early defeat within the Monte-Carlo Masters.
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It’ll mark the primary time Italy has had a No 1 participant for its house event, with Sinner trying to change into the primary Italian man since Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win the title in Rome.
Sinner, who obtained a first-round bye, will face both No 99 Mariano Navone or 18-year-old Italian wildcard Federico Cin in spherical two, although he’s managing expectations given his latest inactivity.
“It’s a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me,” Sinner mentioned. “It’s a very strange feeling again in the beginning to be around so many people and attention. But it’s nice to be back.”
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