Sinner breaks silence after doping suspension: 'Coming back won't be easy'

The World No 1 continued his spectacular form at the 2025 Australian Open, lifting the title by dropping just two sets along the way.

However, his last eight months have not been easy - first found to have "no fault or negligence" for failing two doping tests in March 2024 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the tribunal's decision in late-September.

Just a few weeks after his latest Melbourne triumph, it was announced that Sinner had reached a settlement with WADA to accept a three-month suspension, in return for the agency dropping their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

"I'm very well, I rested and I'm happy," Sinner said in an interview with Sky Sports Italia.

"I would have done many different things, obviously, if I could have chosen, I would have played tennis, but I'm fine, and I'm not even thinking about it too much at the moment."

Sinner is due to return to professional tennis at the Rome Masters, the last Masters 1000 event before Roland Garros.

"After we took this decision, it took me a while to find myself again," stated the three-time Grand Slam champion.

"But I am still here. There is still a bit of time to digest all this, but I can't wait to be back in Rome.

"It's a special tournament for me, even though it will also very tough. I'll be back in a moment in which there will be already a lot of attention on me, and in Rome it's not easy."

The Italian's best result at his home Masters 1000 event was a quarter-final run in 2022, where he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 6-2.

Sinner withdrew from the event in 2024 due to an ongoing hip issue, which forced his mid-tournament withdrawal from Madrid.

"I was very fragile after what happened," he admitted.

"I would tell a lie if I said I was person without feelings or emotions. In life you learn, every year I learn more about myself, also about my value.

"It was not easy, very hard at times, but the people around me gave me the strength to understand what had happened."

His settlement seemed like a somewhat rational decision, with WADA's appeal due to be held April 16 - 17 and a loss potentially handing him a one or two-year ban from competing.

Sinner, who will search for his first Roland Garros title in June this year, also acknowledged that - despite having his friends and family around him - he is "counting the days" until his first professional match.

"I stopped doing what I always dreamed of doing. I am in the best position to play this sport," the 2025 Australian Open champion commented.

"At the beginning I counted the days, but now every day that goes by, as the time gets closer, I feel better physically and mentally.

"Even if there is still time, it is a good opportunity for me to improve in those areas in which I had difficulties, on a surface on which I struggle. So, let's try to do something different. Hopefully it works otherwise we will have more time to try again."

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