Jannik Sinner No 1 World Cup made a solid return of his three-month doping prohibition by beating Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 before a local crowd in the Italian Open.
It was Sinner’s first game in more than 100 days, since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
“Incredible feeling. I have waited a lot of time for this moment,” Sinner said. “I am very happy to return.”
There are too many signs of peace and that Sinner took a long time to begin to crush their dumps of land in or near the lines. When the Italian broke 3-1 on the first set, the crowd inside central field sang “Ole, Ole, Ole, Sin-Animal, Sin-Anim”.
Many fans of the 10,500 exhausted crowd were dressed in orange, the color of the Sinner theme. And there were many signs that said “Bentornato Jannik” or “Welcome to Jannik”.
The victory extended the winning streak of the Sinner to 22 games, dating from October.
“It is used very well sometimes,” he said. “It could be better, yes, but in any case it doesn’t matter the result today. It has a remarkable day for me.”
In February, Sinner agreed with the prohibition of three months in an agreement with the World Anti -Doping Agency (Wada) that raised some questions, since it conveniently allowed him not to miss Grand Slams and return to his local tournament.
The agreement was made after Wada appealed a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to exonerate Sinner so it is proven to be anabolic anabolic in March 2024.
Many professionals feel that Sinner was treated too lightly. But the crowd in the Session of the Italic Forum was sincere, which has remained the most popular athlete in Italy despite its suspension.
When Sinner unleashed a winner of upside down on the line at the beginning of the first set, the game in what Hey Hey broke the Navone service, a Sinner fan shouted: “I destroy it.”
Another sign in the crowd translated to “make our hearts hit.” One more refers to this week’s choice of a new Pope just at the end of the Vatican, joking that “after three months of conclave, Habemus Papam!” – Using the Latin words that are announced from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro when a Pope is chosen.
Sinner’s only real period was late on the second set when he could not consolidate a break and dropped his service. But he broke again in the next game and then served the game.
Sinner hit the double winners that Navone, 21-10; But he had more non-forced mistakes, 24-19.
“It is very difficult to have the right comments when you have no game,” Sinner said. “But exactly that is what I need. Now I think the best practice is the game itself.”
Sinner will face the Dutch qualifier number 93 Jesper of Jong, who beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-0, 6-2.
The last Italian man to win the title of Rome was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
AP
