In Rome, an exciting week has dawned not just occasioned by the conclave to elect a new pope but also due to the Italian Open tennis tournament, which is pulling in droves of visitors eager to witness the return of top-ranked tennis star Jannik Sinner. The local headlines are abuzz with the play on the traditional phrase uttered from the Vatican, “Habemus Papam!” now creatively transformed to “Habemus Sinner” to herald Sinner’s highly anticipated return to the court from a three-month suspension.
Sinner’s return is causing waves of excitement as he becomes the first-ever Italian player to rank as No. 1 during Italy’s home tournament. This significant event is sparking immense interest from the media, with minute details of Sinner’s activities being closely followed akin to that of the cardinals preparing for the papal conclave.
Having served a suspension agreed upon in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, Sinner’s ban lifted on Monday. In response, he is scheduled to perform an open practice session at the esteemed Campo Centrale, anticipated to draw a crowd of enthusiastic spectators totaling 10,500, with live coverage guaranteed on Italian television.
Before this much-awaited practice, Sinner will be acknowledged alongside his compatriots from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams, reflecting the pride of Italy having swept the eminent team titles in tennis last year. However, he has not participated in any matches since clinching his second consecutive Australian Open title early in the year.
The doping case settlement, orchestrated earlier this year, occurred after a previous decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency had fully exonerated Sinner, attributing the use of the non-permitted anabolic steroid to unintentional contamination. Curiously, the timing of the settlement aligns conveniently with Sinner’s ability to partake in his home tournament and thus, avoiding missing any Grand Slam events.
While some of his fellow tennis professionals feel Sinner’s punishment was lenient, the sentiment within Rome seems less critical, especially with his most notorious critic, Nick Kyrgios, absent from the tournament. Kyrgios has been refraining from the Italian Open since his infamous outburst in 2019, which resulted in his ejection from the competition.
Jannik Sinner, who benefits from a first-round bye, is poised to commence his participation in Rome with a match scheduled for either Friday or Saturday. The last Italian to triumph in the Roman tournament was Adriano Panatta back in 1976.
Italian tennis is not solely revolving around Sinner, as the sport is experiencing a substantial boom within the nation. Alongside Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti’s rise to a career-high of No. 9 in the rankings after excellent performances in prominent tournaments has contributed to elevating Italian tennis. Additionally, Matteo Berrettini, who has been rediscovering the form that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2021, and young talents like Matteo Arnaldi and Federico Cina are further stoking enthusiasm and pride in the local scene.
The absence of seasoned players such as the six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic and the retired 10-time champion Rafael Nadal is contributing to even more focus on Sinner. The current titleholder Alexander Zverev will attempt to defend his crown, with No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz anticipated to return from Madrid-related injuries in Rome.
Among the women participating, Jasmine Paolini stands out following her stellar achievements at the French Open and Wimbledon, having also secured victory for Italy in the Billie Jean King Cup. In related news, Tyra Grant, a promising 17-year-old emerging on the scene and originally from the United States, has declared her decision to represent Italy, embracing the country where she grew up. This comes as she is inspired by her family roots and her extensive tennis training coupled with her heritage. She has been granted a wild card entry into the Italian Open, an event that could usher in a new chapter in her budding career.