Jannik Sinner is set to return to full training ahead of his comeback to tennis and he has picked a high-profile training partner to get his match sharpness back.
Sinner accepted a three-month suspension from tennis as his legal team cut a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency following his two failed doping tests in March 2024.
As part of that agreement, Sinner was not allowed to play against professional tennis players until April 13, with that date marked last Sunday as his great rival Carlos Alcaraz was winning the Monte Carlo Masters title.
Sinner needed to find a strong practice partner to get himself back into match shape ahead of his return to the ATP Tour in front of his home fans at the Italian Open next month and he has found the perfect man for the job.
Matteo Berrettini is the man who will be working with Sinner as he attempts to get back to his best for his comeback, with the 2021 Wimbledon finalist hitting with the world No 1 at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
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That is the same venue that saw Alcaraz lift the trophy last weekend, with Gazzetta.it revealing Sinner’s coaching team including Aussie Darren Cahill working with him in Monte Carlo.
Sinner and Berrettini are expected to take to the court on Wednesday and Thursday in what will be key steps towards the comeback of the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Berrettini pulled out of this week’s ATP 500 tournament in Munich with an injury, but it may be that he opted to train with Sinner rather than play another competitive event after his run to the third round in Monte Carlo included a win against top seed Alexander Zverev.
Sinner and Berrettini are close friends, so it is no surprise that the Australian Open champion has reached out to a compatriot to ease him back into action.
Berrettini has spoken in glowing terms about Sinner, who he teamed up with to secure a second successive Davis Cup victory for Italy last November.
“We had never seen anyone hit so hard, so flat and make so few mistakes,” said Berrettini as he spoke about Sinner during their time together on the Davis Cup team.
“As you have seen, he is the most humble player there is. He came here as if he had not won the ATP Finals. He showed great respect for the team.
“His tennis is incredible, but it is about how he manages everything off the court and the way he relates to people.”
Sinner has given one major interview since his ban from the sport, as he opened up on his emotions as he has been forced to take time away from the sport.
“In the end, you have to choose the lesser evil and I believe that is what I have done,” said Sinner, speaking to Sky Italy.
“Even if sometimes it seems a bit unfair, all that I’m living, but then if I look at things from a different perspective it could have been worse. Even more unfairness. This is the way it is.
“The decision to take the three-month suspension was rather quick. We accepted it quite quickly, even though I didn’t agree completely.
“There was a bit of back and forth with my lawyer and the people around me. After we took this decision, it took me a while to find myself again.
“I was very fragile after what happened. I would tell a lie if I said I was a person without feelings or emotions.
“In life you learn, every year I learn more about myself, also about my value. It was not easy, very hard at times, but the people around me gave me the strength to understand what had happened.
“I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to play tennis and be serene. That’s the end of the story.”
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The post Jannik Sinner’s training location and hitting partner revealed as he plots his comeback appeared first on Tennis365.
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