Jannik Sinner has given tennis a big problem – but his Italian fans don’t care

As cries of ‘Sinner, Sinner’ rang around the Foro Italico in Rome, the anticipated acclaim for the returning hero was duly delivered.

In the eyes of Italian tennis fans, their talisman Jannik Sinner is a hero who has no reason to apologise for the crimes he has been punished for, with the three-month suspension he has served following a positive doping test a topic conveniently overlooked by his adoring public as he made his comeback.

Argentina’s Mariano Navone was the player handed the task of taking on Sinner in an atmosphere that was akin to a Davis Cup match and from the off, it was clear that the local hero had way too much for him.

From the first couple of games, Sinner brushed off any suggestions of rustiness as he found stunning length on his ground shots, with Navone having no answer to his brilliance as the Italian won the first set 6-3.

It would have been understandable if Sinner had a few nerves and may need a few games and even a few matches to get his timing back in place, but this brilliant champion didn’t need any of that.

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The weight of his shot was there quickly, with his level impressively high as he rocked Navone onto the ropes and finished him off by serving out the first set.

The second set was a little more edgy, and the euphoria of the crowd faded as Sinner appeared to lose some of his egde, but he found a way to get over the line to seal a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Sinner’s levels were impressive and there is no doubt that if he improves on what he showed against Navone, he will be a favourite to win in Rome this week and probably also at the French Open.

He even allowed himself a wry smile as he shook hands with Navone at the net and overall, this was a fine performance for a player who has not played a competitive match in 104 days.

Yet what did the outside world think of the acclaim flowing in the direction of a player who many will view as a doper?

That tag may be misplaced if you look into the details behind his positive test, with both the International Tennis Integrity United and, eventually, the World Anti-Doping Agency agreeing that Sinner should not be banned from the sport for a long time.

The details of his doping case are well known to tennis fans who have taken time to look into the story, but neutrals who may only have a passing interest in tennis are unlikely to have spent too long looking at this story.

So it may have been more suitable for Sinner to return to action at a venue where polite applause was on the agenda and not the hero worship he received in Rome.

Tennis has suffered a reputational hit after Sinner and world No 2 Iga Swiatek both failed doping tests in recent months.

Both may have been unfortunate to be caught up in stories that did not look like a case of deliberate cheating, but the facts of their cases cannot be changed.

Both Sinner and Swiatek failed drug tests and those who live outside the tennis bubble probably heard more about the failed drug tests for the duo than their wins on court.

We’ve had the Italian media applauding Sinner into press conference and huge crowds cheering at his practice sessions, but some of that acclaim has felt a little ill-judged.

Sinner’s calm temperament ensured he didn’t add to the hype around him in from of his Italian fans in recent days, but the perception that he has been fortunate to escape a longer ban and is also lucky to have time his suspension to ensure he doesn’t miss a Grand Slam tournament are lingering issues for many.

This comeback match was always going to be euphoric for Sinner and he may well be looking forward to getting back to normal away from his Italian fans when he plays in an ATP Tour event in Hamburg later this month and then at the French Open.

Only then will Sinner be able to play in what are more conventional conditions and tennis may be relieved when the player who gave the sport something of a PR crisis after his positive doping test can get back to do what he does best without his cheerleaders ignoring the sensitivities of this story.

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