"The goal will be Paris, but I'm here to see what level I'm at. I'm not here to beat anyone, but to try to get through the first round, then we'll see what happens."
So said Jannik Sinner , returning after three months of stoppage for the Clostebol case, during the press conference at the Internazionali d'Italia. "Physically and mentally I'm fine, this will pay off over time," added the world number 1 who therefore confirmed that he does not have great expectations here in Rome.
Rested, trained and a phenomenon. It would not be a surprise if Sinner could move forward and maybe even win. But the rust from lack of competitive activity could be felt, also in light of a draw that is anything but easy and that will almost certainly put Jannik immediately in front of great clay specialists: after the debut with Cinà or Navone, immediately a dangerous opponent like Davidovich Fokina, then the very dangerous Cerundolo could arrive and then Ruud, fresh winner of the Masters 100 in Madrid. Hypothetical semifinal with Fritz, Alcaraz and Zverev not before the possible final.
On the three months out of competition: "I spoke to some players and everything went well, it's a strange feeling to start again but it's nice. I'm not afraid to go on the pitch, I'm just happy to be here."
The relationship with colleagues in these months? "Tennis is so individual, there is no team, that everyone has their own things to manage and in the end I have hardly heard from anyone. I have heard a little from Jack Draper, who are very good friends, also with Sonego. At the beginning I had surprising messages from tennis players that I would not have expected to receive. And nothing from those who instead I expected to receive something. Names? I don't want to name them. Everything will be fine, little by little everything passes".
Has anything changed? "No, I'm still the same. I definitely feel freer (remember the illness at Wimbledon and the fact that, as he himself said, Jannik "wasn't having fun" on the court anymore). But I haven't changed as a person, it's important to have people around you off the court."
"Before - he added - there were people who lived with my rhythms and this has changed, because I was the one who lived with the rhythms of my family and my friends and I was happy. Many things happened off the court, even if I don't want to talk about it. But even without playing tennis I understood that I was an important person, with a lot of attention around me. At the beginning I was confused, I didn't know what I wanted to do, I was with my family and I tried to understand what I wanted. It's the people off the court who give you the strength to smile and move forward. I'm happy to be here".
There was also room for gossip, the world number 1 denied rumours that he was in a relationship with Lara Leito , a Russian model and ex-partner of Adrien Brody: «I'm not in a relationship», he said.
(Unioneonline/L)