How Sinner's Suspension for Doping Changed Tennis World

A doctored photograph of Jannik Sinner is doing the rounds on social media. It is a close-up of the tennis world No. 1's eyes, with a steely look of unwavering focus. "There is a moment when silence gives way to the echo of a new beginning," reads a translation of the caption. "That time is now." The image was published by the Italian tennis federation.

- Shahid Judge

MUMBAI: A doctored photograph of Jannik Sinner is doing the rounds on social media. It is a close-up of the tennis world No. 1's eyes, with a steely look of unwavering focus. "There is a moment when silence gives way to the echo of a new beginning," reads a translation of the caption. "That time is now." The image was published by the Italian tennis federation.

For a player returning to the tennis tour after serving a three-month doping suspension, Sinner is being handed a hero's welcome at the Italian Open—his home event. Over ten thousand spectators had bought tickets to watch his first open practice session on Monday, which was broadcast live on Italian television. Later he was felicitated, along with the rest of the Italian Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup-winning teams.

As the three-time Grand Slam champion gets set to play his first professional match since the ban, on Saturday against Argentina's Mariano Navone, the rest of the tennis world remains shaken. The cause of the tension, though, has shifted. Earlier, it was because of the argument that Sinner got away with the entire doping episode lightly. But now that Sinner and Iga Swiatek—two high-profile players—have tested positive for dope, there is a cascading effect. The worry of being caught with a positive dope test has become all too real. "If I feel sick, I avoid taking anything because I'm afraid of testing positive later," said world No. 17 Andrey Rublev during Madrid Masters a fortnight ago. "I've become wary of taking medicine."