Jannik Sinner's Return To ATP Tour 'Will Be Fantastic' Insists Daniil Medvedev
News
Jannik Sinner could receive a polarized reaction from his fellow players when he returns to the ATP Tour next month, but Daniil Medvedev thinks his comeback will be good for the sport.
Sinner remains suspended until May 4th. He began his ban on February 9th after reaching a case settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), who had initially appealed his high-profile case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The settlement and months of controversy before it were caused by Sinner testing positive for the prohibited substance clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Open, leading to a stressful saga for the 23-year-old.
Many were unhappy or skeptical about how Sinner's case was settled. Medvedev's initial reaction to the news fell into the skeptical category. The 2021 US Open champion wondered whether other players in a similar situation would be able to negotiate with WADA like Sinner did.
However, those comments do not mean Medvedev thinks Sinner's return will be bad for tennis. Speaking at the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters, he said his upcoming comeback at the 2025 Italian Open is a good thing and expects him to perform well from the start.
"Tennis is an individual sport. Anything can happen: injuries, suspensions, and all sorts of stories. Tennis has a very fast pace, but we know that Sinner will be back soon in Rome. There are still two Masters 1000 without him, let's see how he will come back. I'm sure he will train hard."
"At the moment, he is not here playing this tournament, and there are other players who win tournaments, but when he comes back, facing him will be more difficult for everyone, because Jannik always wins so many matches. I think his return will be fantastic for the ATP circuit."
Medvedev is clearly thinking of the sport's health rather than his own personal chances in those words since he has lost eight of his last nine matches against Sinner. That run included Medvedev being defeated from two sets up in the 2024 Australian Open final.
Sinner recently admitted in an interview that he does not know how other players will react to him in the locker room when he returns at the 2025 Italian Open. It could be quite a mixed reception, varying significantly depending on the player.
Some players might have more questions after a startling interview with Sinner's former fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara. He and the three-time Grand Slam champion's ex-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, were the principal figures involved in the controversy in Indian Wells.
Sinner's story, not disputed by WADA, was that Naldi contaminated him without his knowledge after using a spray containing clostebol given to him by Ferrara. Many assumed that Ferrara and Naldi did not know the product contained clostebol.
However, Ferrara revealed in the interview that he has used trofodermin, which contains clostebol, for years to manage a chronic disease. The fitness coach said he gave Naldi the product for a cut finger but told him to keep it away from Sinner.
Ferrara knowingly carrying a product containing a banned substance as one of Sinner's team members adds a new complexion to the story and raises questions about whether the ATP star knew about Ferrara having trofodermin when traveling.
