Sinner gets running start with winning Rome return

Jannik Sinner hit fifth gear in his first match since January with the world No. 1 thrilling an enthusiastic home crowd with a 6-3 6-4 victory to open his account at the Rome Masters on Saturday.

The prime time showstopper against Argentine Mariano Navone quickly turned into a Sinner celebration, with fans greeting the top seed with a Mexican wave and signs of support.

The 23-year-old from Italy’s German-speaking Alto Adige is back in action after serving a three-month ban for inadvertent doping, with no fault laid on the player but on careless staff.

Sinner got away quickly against his 99th-ranked opponent, breaking in the fourth game and claiming the first set on his second opportunity.

The Italian got through his lone rough spot of the evening in front of 10,500 when he was  broken in the eighth game. But a quick break-back solved that problem as he put away victory with an ace a game later.

“It’s an amazing feeling, I’ve waited long for this moment. I’m happy to be back and happy to win today,”the winner said six years after playing the first Masters match of his career here. 

“It’s very difficult to have feedback without paying matches. That’s what I need – the best training is the matches themselves.”

Sinner was generally pleased with his level against a pure clay-courter.

“I tried to move the ball around. It could have been better but the result doesn’t matter. It was a remarkable day for me.

“I tried to give all I had – it was the only thing that I can control.”

Sinner said that starting his tournament on day four was not a problem.

“The sensations were quite good, to be honest. There were some ups and downs but that’s normal.”I accepted the break (second set), I can work with that. Now I have some feedback.”Playing on centre court in the night session is an amazing feeling; I can never take that for granted – I’m just happy to be back.”

Sinner’s last match 104 days ago was the Australian Open final, where he hammered Taylor Fritz for his second title in Melbourne.

 The Italian has now won his last 22 matches.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner makes a winning return after his drugs ban – by ATPTour.com