"We're great friends": Jannik Sinner names one top-10 rival whom he spoke to during three-month ban

World number one Jannik Sinner revealed that one of the players he spoke to during his ban was Britain’s Jack Draper. The two are known to be good friends off the court and recently, in a video that was available on social media platforms, Draper can be seen training with Sinner ahead of his much-awaited return to tennis.

Sinner, while speaking to tennis journalist Giovanni Pelazzo, stated that he did not speak to many players during the ban, but one of the players whom he did speak to was Britain’s Draper. The reigning world number one also stated that he expected some players to message him, which never happened, but he reiterated that he holds no grudge for anyone and expressed optimism that things will get better eventually.

"I haven't spoken to almost anyone,” he said. “I've spoken to Draper, we're great friends and he came to train with me. Then with Sonego. At the beginning of the suspension I received some surprising messages from certain players, while from others from whom I perhaps expected something, nothing arrived. But in the end it's normal, everyone wants to win, there was no video call with any player. But everything will be fine. I don't want to name names regardless"

Sinner’s three-month ban, which he accepted after agreeing on a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for failing two dope tests in March last year, is set to end when he features in the upcoming Rome Open. The ATP 1000 event is set to officially begin on Wednesday, where some top players in the world will participate to showcase their talent, secure the ultimate prize and also prepare for the second Grand Slam of the year — the French Open, which will begin in three weeks’ time. This will be Sinner’s first appearance in any event ever since lifting the Australian Open back in January, where he defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.