🎾 Sinner Eyes Return

Happy Tuesday! As Jannik Sinner eyes his long-awaited return in Rome, Aryna Sabalenka and Casper Ruud steal the spotlight with Madrid Open titles in a week packed with big storylines.

In this week's newsletter:

• 🧱 Sinner’s Return Starts in Rome

• 🎾 Weekly Roundup: Osaka’s Comeback and São Paulo’s Revival

• 🧠 How Ruud and Sabalenka Conquered Madrid

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this week’s question! Difficulty: Hard

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🧱 Sinner’s Return Starts in Rome 🧱 

After over 100 days away from the tour, Jannik Sinner returns this weekend in Rome. The Italian hasn't competed since the Australian Open in January, serving a three-month ban after testing positive for clostebol. The case was reportedly linked to contamination from a massage by his former physiotherapist, and Sinner has maintained his innocence.

"For a moment, I even thought about giving up everything," he told Italian broadcaster RAI. Sinner also admitted to feeling uncomfortable in Australia when "it seemed…that the other players looked at [him] differently."

Despite the absence, Sinner remains securely ranked No. 1. Neither Alexander Zverev nor Carlos Alcaraz closed the 3,695-point gap, with Zverev failing to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal and Alcaraz slowed by injuries, despite titles in Rotterdam and Monte-Carlo.

Sinner returns on home soil with strong fan support, though the reception in the locker room may be colder. The lingering effects of what some players have called "preferential treatment" could create a challenging atmosphere for the Italian.

How quickly can Sinner regain his pre-suspension form? With Rome and Roland-Garros ahead, the question is not if he will return to his best, but whether he can do so immediately.

🎾 Weekly Roundup: Osaka’s Comeback and São Paulo’s Revival 🎾

Naomi Osaka ended her four-year title drought by winning her first-ever clay court title at the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, defeating Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5. It’s her first title since the 2021 Australian Open and lifts her back into the world’s top 50.

Max Purcell has accepted an 18-month doping ban for receiving vitamin infusions that exceeded the permissible limit, admitting to two 500ml treatments despite the 100ml-per-12-hour restriction. The Australian, a two-time doubles Grand Slam champion, cooperated with authorities but will remain suspended until June 2026.

Djokovic withdraws from Rome amid a three-match losing streak ahead of Roland Garros. The six-time champion and world No. 5 has a modest 12-7 record in 2025 and will head to Paris without his usual preparation.

WTA returns to São Paulo after a 25-year absence with a new 32-player WTA 250 tournament scheduled for September 8 on outdoor hard courts. Replacing Tunisia's Jasmin Open, the event marks Brazil's first women's tournament since 2000.

🧠 The Mental Edge: How Ruud and Sabalenka Conquered Madrid 🧠

Casper Ruud captured his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday, defeating Britain's Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the Madrid Open final. The Norwegian rallied from 5-3 down in the first set and sealed victory with a decisive break in the third, securing his return to the ATP top 10 at No. 7. This breakthrough comes with added significance as Ruud recently opened up about seeking professional help for mental health challenges, a decision that left him "waking up every day with a smile" and experiencing mental improvements that have "been paying off quite quickly" on court.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6(3) in the women’s final to claim her third Madrid Open title and become the first player in 2025 to win three tournaments. Having previously struggled in finals this season, Sabalenka demonstrated remarkable emotional control against Gauff, later describing the match as "intense, a real fight" where she was proud to "handle [her] emotions at the end of the second set." With 31 wins already this year, her Madrid victory further establishes her as the player to beat heading toward Roland-Garros.

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