Italian Open 'honours' returning Sinner post dope ban

JANNIK Sinner says he was lost and confused after settling on a three-month doping ban with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February.

- ANDREW DAMPF @ Rome

The top-ranked tennis player suddenly didn't know what to do with himself away from the game he had dedicated almost his entire life to. "At the start I was a bit confused because I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do," Sinner said on Monday—the day the ban expired—upon his arrival at the Italian Open. "Then I went home and stayed with my family. I tried to understand better what was really important to me. I know how many sacrifices I made and my daily routine was always practice, practice, practice. But at that moment I didn't have any of that. I came to understand that what's important to me are the people by your side. That they give you the strength to move forward and continue smiling."