Elated Sinner Tempers Expectations for Rome Return

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, May 5, 2025
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook

Stinging shots off his strings in practice, Jannik Sinner first taste of tennis freedom saw him back in his happy space.

Italian fans shared the joy showering Sinner with applause at his Rome practice.

Sinner’s three-month suspension ended yesterday.

Meeting the media today ahead of his Rome return, Sinner said he’s thrilled to be back—and carries modest expectations into this Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

“I would happy even if I’m three or four in the world, to be honest,” Sinner told the media in Rome. “I’m just happy to be back here.”

World No. 1 Sinner will face either Argentinean Mariano Navone or Italian Federic Cina in his Rome opener.

That will be Sinner’s first match since he stomped Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 In the Australian Open final successfully defending his AO championship with command in January.

Riding a career-best 21-match winning streak into his Rome return, Sinner said given his layoff and lack of match play he has “very, very low expectation” for the final clay-court Masters 1000 event of the season.

“It’s a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me, it’s talking also results wise,” Sinner told the media in Rome.

“What’s missing is the complete feedback of where my level is. That’s going to come then slowly with the time of playing, after the first round match I’m going to have a good picture of myself — where I am at.”

The good news for Sinner is the Italian Davis Cup hero figures to receive a hero’s welcome and massive support from Rome fans.

Additionally, in Sinner’s three-month absence, none of his chief rivals stepped up to take supremacy.

World No. 2 Zverev failed to reach the semifinals in six tournaments in a row after Melbourne. Zverev beat Ben Shelton to win Munich before bowing to Francisco Cerundolo in the Madrid round of 16.

Reigning Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz, the last man to beat Sinner in Beijing last fall, won Monte-Carlo, but withdrew from Madrid amid questions over his health.

Six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Eternal City without citing an injury or medical reason.

In short, if you’re Sinner, who currently holds two of the four Grand Slams and could complete a Sinner Slam by winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, this may well be the ideal time to come back.

Initially, Sinner said he was reluctant to accept the three-month suspension because he believes he’s innocent. However, Sinner said he’s happy to put the case behind him—and still maintain his shot for a calendar Grand Slam.

“For me personally good news that the Grand Slams were not included,” Sinner said. “This kind of agreement, I didn’t want to do it in the beginning. It was not easy for me to accept it because I know what really happened, but sometimes we have to choose the best in a very bad moment.

“It’s all over now, so I’m happy to play tennis again.”