Sinner opens up after his return: "Of course I had doubts, but they mean that this matters to me"

Carlos Navarro | 10 May 2025 | 22.12

Jannik Sinner. Source: Getty

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Jannik Sinner is undoubtedly the standout name of Saturday at the ATP Rome 2025. The world number one returned to action and was met with a fantastic reception, a crowd roaring with chants of "Olé, olé, Sinner" as the San Candido native displayed a solid performance on court. As if nothing had happened, as if the three months off the courts were just a summer night's dream, Jannik smiled again on the court... and later, in the press conference, he delved into the mental process before his return and how the support of the public meant the most to him.

- The incredible reception from the public upon his return to the circuit in Rome

"It's clear that it's a top-level reception. It has been amazing to be back on a tennis court after such a long time, receiving all this support in the last few days. Since the day I arrived, what I have felt has been incredible. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. I am very happy about today, happy to be able to play at least one more match here, and from there, we'll see how it goes."

- On the change of attitude, stating that he comes here without expectations, and if that's "enjoyable"

"It's clear that it's a different attitude. I feel that we have prepared as best as possible, but it's clear that I lacked the information from official matches, which is the best information a player can receive. Now I have a clearer vision of what I'm doing well and what I need to improve. The nerves and everything else still have to hit my body; I must understand what to do better for the next round. I hope to play a couple more matches to see where I stand; that would be my main goal. Everything else is positive. It was a great start to my comeback; we'll see what lies ahead."

- Differences between the intensity and level between training and an official match

"The differences are total. A match, even when it seems comfortable, is always a rollercoaster. Internally, especially, we feel it. Particularly noticeable at the outset, with those nerves of serving for the first time, of moving in the best possible way. It's different. In training, you play with more freedom; you don't care as much about losing a point. I'm very competitive, so I love the official match; I love the competition, and this is what I was looking for. I felt very good on the court, which makes me happy. Now we're looking for small adjustments, small details that can make the difference. Tomorrow I have a day off, and we'll use it in the best possible way."

- The incredible support and reaction from the public upon his return to competition

"That means much more than any result, honestly. Arriving here, what I have felt since my first training sessions... it's incredible. We were looking for a good roadmap with other players, the best way to get into a rhythm and now to get better every day. But it's not just about me; there are other Italians playing here that make the experience even greater: Musetti, for the first time in the top-10, Matteo, who is from Rome... what we have in Italian tennis right now is incredible."

- His choice regarding clothing upon his return to the circuit, opting for a single color, black

"We are all different. Here, in Rome, on my previous occasions, I have always played entirely in black. It's something I always like to maintain in a certain way. I can change it in the future, of course, but I love the outfit being the same color. I think it suits me very well. I don't like yellow, orange, these very bright colors. I prefer darker colors. Fashion off the court is very different; I still have a lot to learn (laughs). I'm just a normal 23-year-old guy, nothing too crazy."

- Did he have doubts during these three months off the courts? Did he think he might not be able to play at this level again?

"Of course. Having doubts is normal. It would be very strange not to have doubts; it would sound very arrogant. I have doubts. I had doubts before stepping onto the court today. I have doubts about what will happen in the next match, but I have to live with doubt because it means this matters to you, that you want to improve, that you want to show who you are, that you want to achieve something special. I think each and every one of us has doubts on a daily basis, yes."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner se sincera tras su vuelta: "Claro que tuve dudas, pero significan que esto me importa"

Jannik Sinner