World No. 1 Jannik Sinner shared his thoughts on his victory over Mariano Navone in the second round of the Rome Masters, where he won 6:3, 6:4. This match marked the Italian`s first appearance since a period out of competition following a disqualification for violating anti-doping rules, as stated in the provided text.
What does it mean for you to be back on court and playing tennis?
“It`s an incredible feeling. I waited for this moment for quite a long time. I`m very happy to be back. I mentioned in Italian that without matches, it`s challenging to get proper feedback, but that`s exactly what I need. The best training is the match itself. I`m pleased with that, and happy with today`s win. It wasn`t easy; he`s an excellent player, particularly on clay. I tried to vary my game and move the ball around. Sometimes it worked well, sometimes it could have been improved. But regardless, the outcome wasn`t the most important thing today. For me, it was a wonderful day, and I`m very happy.”
How impressed are you with your own level of play? It seemed like there wasn`t really a break.
“I was surprised by how quickly things can change. I tried to give my absolute best; that`s the only thing I can do right now and the only thing I control. But honestly, the feeling was quite positive. Naturally, there are ups and downs, that`s normal. But he also played some excellent tennis, especially when he broke me in the second set. I tried to accept that and keep working. Now I have good feedback, and hopefully, I can work on refining things.”
Starting on Saturday… it felt like a long wait. Were you nervous, or did the additional days help?
“It helped me. I trained in Monaco with the same team. I was fortunate to practice with great players like Jack [Draper] and Sonego, as well as some juniors. However, when you arrive at a tournament, everything changes; the atmosphere is different. This preparation helped me. Playing on the center court in the evening session was a tremendous feeling, a special feeling. I never take these opportunities for granted. I`m simply happy to be back.”
Marcus Prine