Jannik Sinner makes brutally honest admission ahead of tennis comeback as doping ban nears end

Jannik Sinner has made a brutally honest admission about himself ahead of his long-awaited return to professional tennis. His doping ban, which has kept him out for months, is now nearing its end.

Sinner tested positive for the banned substance clostebol on two occasions during the 2024 Indian Wells tournament. However, he avoided an immediate ban by proving that the substance had unintentionally entered his system through a contaminated over-the-counter spray used by his physiotherapist.

Although the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially cleared him, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) later appealed the decision. After further discussions, the Italian agreed to serve a three-month suspension from February 9 to May 4.

With May just around the corner and Jannik Sinner still holding the World No. 1 spot, he recently spoke to local broadcaster ORF Südtirol during a Sports Gala in his home region of South Tyrol. He shared that he’s been training hard to get ready for the clay season, but admitted it won’t be easy for him.

“Now that we have less than a month to go, we're training very, very hard,” he said. “Hopefully, we'll get some momentum going again ahead of the clay season. It certainly won't be easy for me.”

He added:

“The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully I'll be able to get back into the rhythm and then we'll see how it goes.”

Sinner’s first tournament on his return to the ATP Tour will be the Italian Open, scheduled from May 6 to May 18. The ATP Masters 1000 event is held in Rome.

Jannik Sinner has a huge advantage at Italian Open 2025

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz pictured together | Image Source: Getty

Although Jannik Sinner has admitted that making a comeback at the 2025 Italian Open after months away from professional tennis won’t be easy, he does have some things working in his favor. The biggest advantage is his arch-rival, Carlos Alcaraz, who suffered injuries during his Barcelona Open final against Holger Rune and is now uncertain about playing in Rome.

Alcaraz lost the final in Barcelona and then withdrew from the Madrid Open with a heavy heart. He revealed that he is currently dealing with an abductor muscle issue in his right leg, a hamstring problem in his left, and some groin trouble as well.

If Sinner plays his cards right, lifting the trophy in Rome could be within reach. However, it won’t be a walk in the park, as Alexander Zverev, who is in good form and full of confidence after his recent BMW Open win, could be a major obstacle if Alcaraz doesn’t compete.