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Victor Petkov
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Sinner makes winning return after 100 days of doping ban
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The world No. 1 defeated Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 at the Italian Open

Jannik Sinner made a triumphant return to the court after his 100-day absence, defeating Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in his first match back at the Italian Open. The world No. 1 looked sharp despite the long layoff, which came on the heels of his Australian Open victory in January and a subsequent three-month doping ban. The home crowd roared with support, and Sinner didn’t disappoint—finding his rhythm quickly and showing little sign of rust.

Breaking Navone at 3-1 in the first set ignited chants of “Ole, ole, ole, Sin-ner, Sin-ner” from the packed stands, a fitting welcome back for Italy’s top tennis star. His groundstrokes were as precise and powerful as ever, and his movement looked fluid, despite his own admitted uncertainty about how he’d perform after such a long break.

Sinner’s honesty about his doubts—both before and even after the match—showed a grounded mindset. “It would be strange not to have doubts,” he said, framing them not as a weakness, but as a sign of passion and ambition.

With this win, Sinner extends his remarkable winning streak to 22 matches, a run that began last October. The Italian now moves forward with confidence—and a raucous Roman crowd behind him—as he aims to make a deep run in his home tournament.