Jannik Sinner stumbles on Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Masters 1000 in Rome for his suspension return

Serve with precision. Go up to the net. Slide on ocher earth. Hit the ball. According to the state of form of Jannik Sinner, the clay, it is not forgotten. Even when we were removed from the circuit for three months. The Italian was suspended between February and May, as part of an agreement concluded with the World Anti -Doping Agency after two positive anti -doping controls to an anabolic, attributed to accidental contamination in March 2024.

On the Campo centralthe Triple winner of Grand Chelem worked to send this sanction to oblivion on Sunday, May 18. Under the encouragement fed by the public, the 23 -year -old right -hander, first stood up to Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Masters 1000 in Rome. The Italian obtained two set balls in the first act, before disillusionment in the second set (7-6 [7-5]6-1). The Spaniard, world number 3, more relaxed and well inspired, recorded a fourth consecutive success against the Italian (in 12 confrontations), which could be his biggest rival in Roland-Garros (May 25-June 8). Alcaraz also ended a series of 26 Sinner victories this Sunday.

Despite this defeat, this return home is similar to a triumphant walk for Jannik Sinner, who enjoys great popularity in Italy. Nearly 10,800 supporters celebrated, on Sunday, the presence in the transalpine final, whose reason for absence – which could have raised reserves – did not seem to be a problem too much.

Alcaraz “happy to see him come back to the circuit”

More surprisingly, the other players in the tournament seem to have started tuning for it. Forgotten, the projections of Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic, who had deplored hasty whitening, too light sanctions and barely formulated convictions from tennis bodies. Before the final, Carlos Alcaraz thus praised the return in force of his opponent: “It’s incredible. I was happy to see him come back to the circuit. »» Like his opponent in the semi-finals, the American Tommy Paul: “It is not number 1 for nothing”.

A benevolence that opens the door to the start of redemption to sinner. Not that his status as a world number one was worried. No more than his great home presence. But, a few weeks before Roland Garros (May 25, June 8), the Italian was able to probe the reception reserved for him and reassure himself as to his state of form. “” I hope to see where I am and what I have to improve He announced at the start of the tournament, after officially resuming training on April 13.

This forced break does not seem to have decreased sinner. The latter thus outclassed the Norwegian Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals (6-0, 6-1). The world n ° 7, finalist in 2023 in Roland Garros and recent winner of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, explained in the mixed zone never seen anything like: “It is closest to the perfection of which I witnessed on a short against a player. (…) It was like playing against a wall that brings you the bullets to 100,000 an hour all the time. It was simply impressive. »» All the more impressive as the clay remains, so far, the most fragile surface of the Italian.

“We tried to get the most out of these three months and see the glass half full, explained to The team His trainer, Simone Vagnozzi. Even if I was surprised to hear some saying that this break was an advantage. I have never seen someone choose to stop three months between the Australian Open and the Rome tournament. »»

Even Pope Leon XIV, who received him in the Vatican this week, seems to have absolved this “sinner” (“fisherman”, in English). Dellented by his doubts, but not yet at Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian now has a few days to adjust the sights before his next objective: « Paris ».