Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban began on February 9 with complete radio silence. During this time, he was spotted only on friends’ social media, cycling, and enjoying karting. He wasn’t allowed to practice officially, making it a perfect chance to relax. On April 13, he returned to the clay courts of Monte Carlo, practicing with Jack Draper, signaling his serious comeback. Then, on April 28, Sinner announced the launch of his Jannik Sinner Foundation to support underprivileged kids in sports, showing he’s thinking beyond tennis while gearing up for his May 4 return. Just when fans thought that was all, Sinner was seen stepping out with someone new!

On April 29, Sinner was spotted heading to practice with Russian model Lara Leito. According to Chi magazine, the model once dated two-time Oscar winner Adrien Brody. She and Sinner reportedly began dating during his three-month ban. The journalist at Punto d Break, Jose Moron tweeted the moment on X, writing, “In Italy, media outlets such as La Gazzetta report that Jannik Sinner has a new girlfriend. This is Lara Leito, a 31-year-old Russian model. Here, the cameras caught them in Monte Carlo.” Talk about a fresh start!

This new romance follows speculations about Sinner’s breakup with Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya and marks a new chapter in his personal life. Jannik and Kalinskaya’s relationship began quietly around April 2024. They made it public at the French Open in May 2024. There, Sinner confirmed, “Yes, I’m with Anna, but we keep everything very confidential. I won’t say more.” The couple was often seen supporting each other on the court.

They even shared a sweet kiss after Sinner’s US Open win in September 2024. But by late 2024, things cooled off. Rumors of a breakup spread after they unfollowed each other on social media. Kalinskaya was also notably absent from Sinner’s box at the 2025 Australian Open.

However, there’s yet to be an official confirmation from Jannik about this new relationship. So far, the model has posted pictures from her time at the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters and included fox emojis in her captions. Could we soon see her cheering Sinner on court? Only time will tell.

On the other hand, Sinner’s return to the Rome Masters is highly anticipated. He missed last year’s home tournament due to a hip injury and has been out of competition since winning the Australian Open in January.  What are his expectations?

Jannik admits the road ahead “won’t be easy.” 

While the Italian is eager, he can’t help but be real about the nerves. “Now that we have less than a month to go, we’re training very, very hard,” he told ORF Sudtirol. He’s keeping it real about the challenge ahead: “The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the rhythm and then we’ll see how it goes.” His focus is clear-build momentum for the clay season and beyond.

The suspension kicked in on February 9, sidelining him from tournaments and even blocking training with his coaches and other pros until April 13. But Sinner’s team wasn’t about to let him lose steam. Marco Panichi, his physical trainer, called the break a blessing in disguise, saying Sinner “rediscovered himself” through skiing, fashion shows, and museum visits.

Sinner opened up about the unexpected upside of the downtime: “At the beginning of the three months, it was quite nice. A bit of time away from all the grind. I spent time with family, with friends. I was doing new things and getting to know myself better, finding out where I stand. I think it helped me a lot,” he said. As the practice ban ended, he hit the courts at Monte-Carlo, practicing with Matteo Berrettini and Jack Draper, flashing the power and precision fans love.

Lucky for him, he’s still standing at the World No.1 position in the rankings despite not being able to defend his ranking at all for three months. However, that doesn’t mean the nerves aren’t going to get to him. Will he make a statement like never before as he heads into Rome MAsters starting on May 7? Share your thoughts in the comments below!