As Jannik Sinner serves his three-month ban, anticipation builds for his return. WADA’s announcement of his ban between February 9 and May 4 sent shockwaves through tennis, sparking mixed reactions. Players like Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic decried the “unfair treatment.” Not to mention, Sinner’s absence offered others a chance to overthrow him in the rankings. However, despite not defending his title for 52 days, missing out on key tournaments in the Middle East swing and the Sunshine Double, he’s just completed 43 weeks on the No.1 spot. Now, his return looms ominously, posing a challenge to the rest of the fraternity. How? Well, a former pro might know!

To catch you up, Sinner’s doping controversy began with two positive tests for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, which he claimed resulted from inadvertent contamination by his physiotherapist using an over-the-counter spray. Initially cleared by an independent tribunal, Sinner was later appealed against by WADA, who argued that athletes are responsible for substances in their bodies. Ultimately, Sinner accepted a three-month ban in a settlement with WADA, acknowledging partial responsibility despite maintaining his innocence of intentional doping.

The Italian superstar has missed out on two 1000 Masters events already and will skip Monte Carlo and Madrid before his suspension ends. Despite this, former world No. 6 Gilles Simon is buzzing about Sinner’s impending return. “It’s a three-month suspension where he’s practicing, so basically it’s a three-month preparation,” Gilles Simon told Tennis365. “He’s going to play a bit to find the rhythm again, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to find it quickly.”

Sinner is gearing up for a homecoming at the Italian Open in Rome, starting May 7, followed by the Hamburg Open before the French Open. His last major outing was a stunning Australian Open win, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final, dropping just two sets throughout the tournament. Sinner’s dominance on the ATP Tour since 2024 has been nothing short of phenomenal, with a remarkable 73-6 record last season.

The 23-year-old has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with, even in the face of adversity. Last year, he withdrew from several events, including the Italian Open and Paris Masters, due to illness. However, his grit was on full display during the US Open semifinals against Jack Draper. Sinner suffered a wrist injury but still managed to win the match and went on to claim the title.

Simon believes Sinner’s suspension could be a blessing in disguise. “He’s healthy, he had time to also maybe heal the parts of the body that maybe needed some work on it. Any work he had to do, he had time to do it,” Simon noted. This downtime has allowed Sinner to focus on his recovery and preparation, setting him up for a strong comeback.

As Sinner prepares to return, his rivals have failed to capitalize on his absence. Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz have not significantly narrowed the gap in the ATP rankings. Sinner still leads Zverev by 2,685 points and Alcaraz by 3,610. With his return on the horizon, it seems likely that Sinner will continue to lead the pack. As Simon put it, “In one moment, he’s going to win, he’s going to be back on track, and he’s going to play well – because it’s not an injury, it’s a suspension.”

He’s not alone in his thoughts about it. Italian legend Adriano Panatta, who has applauded Sinner on many occasions, echoes Simon’s thoughts.

Former Grand Slam Champion expresses high expectations from Jannik Sinner

Adriano Panatta, the trailblazing Italian who won the 1976 French Open, has been singing Jannik Sinner’s praises. After witnessing Sinner’s phenomenal 2024 season, which included two Grand Slam titles, six singles titles, and ending the year as World No.1, Panatta declared in an interview with TuttoSport, dated November 18, “We should look for an opponent in another galaxy because here on earth there is no one who can worry him. In these 50 years of tennis, I have never seen such an evident supremacy over his opponents.” This admiration comes as no surprise, given Sinner’s dominance on the court.

On the other hand, despite the recent doping controversy that led to a three-month ban, Panatta remains optimistic about Sinner’s comeback. With just one month left on his suspension, Panatta believes the break could be beneficial. “Jannik Sinner is ready for Rome, a break can sometimes do good… I am convinced that Jannik has used this period to improve his game on clay and has not lost his physical shape, they tell me that he has trained a lot and fortunately, he has also maintained the top of the rankings,” Panatta said to La Gazzetta dello Sport on April 1.

Sinner is set to return to action at the Italian Open in Rome, starting May 7, and will also compete in the Hamburg Open from May 17–24. With his return imminent, it’s exciting to see if he will continue his winning streak and sweep titles clean. Will he come back stronger than ever? Share your thoughts in the comments below!