Jannik Sinner's official return to the court for a match is scheduled for the night between Saturday and Sunday in Italy, but anticipation is already high for his debut at the Cincinnati Masters 1000. This is demonstrated by the crowd of journalists at the world number one's press conference in the Ohio city. After all, the Italian must defend his victory and points from last year on the American hard court, ahead of the even more important US Open.
Images of his first practice session with the prominent elastic bandage on his right arm raised concerns about a recurrence of the elbow problem, which occurred after a fall in the near-loss match against Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon. But Sinner himself is reassuring: "My elbow doesn't hurt, but I like the feel of the sleeve," he replies when asked for an explanation. "It gives a little more stability when hitting the ball. I also used it at Wimbledon and I liked it."
Last year, during the US tournament he later won, Sinner faced hearings with the judges regarding the Clostebol affair. The inevitable question was whether trainer Umberto Ferrara, one of the key figures in the case, would return to his team. The Italian tennis player, however, cut the matter short. It's an issue he's put behind him: "I think everything has already been said in the official statement, so there's nothing else to add," he says. The South Tyrolean appears serene and smiling. A sign that the long vacation has certainly recharged him, at least psychologically . "I took some time for my family, friends, and the most important people," he emphasizes. "But obviously I'm back training to be ready for the US season, which is really important."
His return comes after his success at Wimbledon, which wasn't a given . "Coming back on court and being able to play at this level after what happened in the previous Grand Slam surprised even me at times," admits the Italian champion. "So I'm very happy; I'm coming in with that drive." A lot of energy will be needed, however, as the tournament in Ohio will last two weeks. "There are so many tournaments like this these days, they get long," explains Sinner. "But we players can't control everything: it's nice for the fans, because they can enjoy two weekends of good tennis. If you ask me if I'd prefer a week-long tournament—yes, like Monte Carlo, for example—I prefer it. But that's fine."
