Jannik Sinner is set to play two tournaments leading up to the French Open after signing up for the ATP 500 tournament in Hamburg, which is slated to take place between May 18-24.
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As you probably know, the three-time Grand Slam champion settled with the WADA on a three-month doping ban - the suspension started on February 9th and will officially end on May 4th - that meant that the Italian would at least be able to play the Rome Masters before going to Roland Garros.
Since even playing Rome would probably leave Sinner lacking matches ahead of the French Open, the 23-year-old decided to add another tournament to his clay schedule. For the Italian tennis star, it will mark his debut appearance at the German clay event, which was previously held after Wimbledon.
Sinner wanted to end the uncertainty
When the news of this year's Australian Open champion accepting a three-month doping suspension surfaced, the world No. 1 suggested that he dealt with lots of uncertainty throughout the process and that going to a CAS trial would only prolong the drama.
"This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year," he said in a statement after the doping ban was confirmed.
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Although Sinner still has a month and a half to serve, it is fair to say that his main goal in Rome and Hamburg will be to try to get some matches and find some rhythm and form before the second Grand Slam of the year.
