“I don’t think you can be out for three months and come back as if nothing”: Andy Roddick weighs in on Jannik Sinner’s comeback

Andy Roddick is already looking ahead to Jannik Sinner’s return as the clay swing begins. The Italian’s three-month suspension started in early February, and he is set to make his comeback at the Rome Open, starting on May 7.

The world No. 1 will return to competition while still holding the top ranking despite his months off and having played only one tournament this season—his Australian Open title run in January.

Sinner initially avoided suspension after the ITIA found "no fault or negligence" in his doping case from March 2024. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed, seeking a ban of one to two years, but eventually reached a settlement with Sinner, reducing it to just three months to close the case.

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick previewed Sinner’s return in a column for Blog Betway, stating that the Rome Open—where Sinner will play at home—is the perfect setting to move past the controversy. “Sinner will return at the Italian Open, and his home crowd in Rome is going to go nuts. With the amount of support and fame that he has in Italy, I’m not sure there could have been a better place for him to come back”

“He’s played well in Turin and won the ATP Finals there, but he didn’t play Rome last year so they haven’t seen Jannik since he’s become the best player in the world,” the 2003 US Open champion added.

“I’m not worried about any noise around his return affecting him, because that’s been there since last year’s U.S. Open and he won two majors in that time. I think he has the respect of people in the locker room, even if they disagree with the confusing nature of the doping protocols and what they may view as inconsistencies. Maybe you have a couple of yahoos who are more interested in tweeting opinions than actually reading facts, but Jannik is pretty understated. I don’t think he’s going to walk in with any sort of combative nature.”

The American considered that, in any case, playing on clay definitely does not favour Sinner, and that having fewer clay tournaments to prepare for the French Open will make it more difficult for him to return to his previous level of dominance before the suspension. “The fact is he’s coming back, but he’ll be coming back on the surface that is probably not his favourite.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s not great on it, but he’s judged against his own shadow and if there’s anything concrete under his feet then he’s dominant, he added. “His preparation for Paris will likely be affected. I don’t think you can be out for three months and come back as if nothing has changed. Maybe it’s like riding a bike, but I don’t think playing a normal schedule and not playing for three months are the same.