Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Offers Honest Take on Locker Room Shift as Jannik Sinner Returns From Ban

If there’s one thing about Jannik Sinner that stands out, it’s certainly his calm demeanor and poised attitude on and off the court. Fans have witnessed the Italian World No. 1 bounce back from injuries like his fall during the US Open semis last year, battle extreme fatigue as he did in the 2025 Australian Open match against Holger Rune, and face the scrutiny of his doping controversy from March 2024-all while still topping the charts in wins and titles. Former legends like Andre Agassi have praised his mentality as truly commendable. Yet, despite his composed front, Patrick Mouratoglou believes Sinner will face another challenge following his comeback in Rome. What is it?

Jannik is no stranger to scrutiny by now. Since his positive tests for the banned substance clostebol emerged last year before the US Open, he’s noticed a shift in locker room vibes. During his run to a second straight Australian Open title in January, he said, “players were looking at me differently.” Mouratoglou expects this to continue now that Sinner is back.

Speaking in a reel posted Saturday, Serena Williams’ former coach said, “I think that Jannik is really very strong mentally and very calm in his approach.” But he added that the timing of Sinner’s three-month ban-right between a Grand Slam and the Rome Masters, his home tournament-felt convenient. “A lot of guys were disappointed, not about him, but more about the judgment and the fact that they felt that there was a double standard.”

This sentiment was shared by several players. Novak Djokovic said a “majority of the players” he spoke to felt the ban was unfair and hinted at “favoritism” towards top players. Stan Wawrinka tweeted, “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore…” Daniil Medvedev, while not directly accusing favoritism, expressed hope that Sinner’s case would set a precedent for more consistent doping sentences. Mouratoglou believes this tension may not be overt but could make players “less friendly.”

Mouratoglou explained, “I would say that the players are friendly because they see each other every single day, but it’s difficult for them to be friends because they are competitors. They think about themselves, and they want to be the best. When you feel that people distrust you, it has to-trust your, you feel. I can understand that it doesn’t feel as good.”

Though Sinner didn’t miss any Grand Slams, he sat out big events like the Sunshine Double, Monte Carlo Masters, and Madrid, losing nearly 2,100 ranking points. That could have cost him the No. 1 spot if others had performed better. Still, Mouratoglou says Sinner has the right mindset for high-stakes competition. “In the past, and especially when he got this positive control and everything that was going on, he showed incredible mental strength. Even if he’s affected, I think he will be able to pass over it and play tennis the way he knows how to play tennis.”

Last year, Jannik Sinner won eight titles, six of which came after testing positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid. He faced setbacks, especially after WADA announced it would revisit the case ahead of the China Open, despite the ITIA clearing him in August. That cost him the final against Carlos Alcaraz. But after that, he maintained an impressive winning streak that shocked many. How does Sinner feel about heading into his first match?

Jannik Gets Candid About His Return to Competition After Three Months

Reviving his official YouTube channel on Saturday, Sinner shared a heartfelt thank you with his fans in a new video. He said, “Guys the preparation is finally over. Just wanted to say thank you so much for the last days, the support, the love you gave me, the happiness you gave me, the joy it has been amazing. So thank you so much for that, coming also to my practice sessions, it was only positive energy.” He’s clearly soaking up the moment, excited to be back on court and feeling the fan love in full force.

And from the looks of it, Sinner isn’t sweating the match results just yet. “I want to do the same thing in the match results wise whatever comes out. Tomorrow is going to be my first match after some time so whatever comes out I’m happy to be back again on the match courts and to share this moment with all of you, it’s going to be amazing so thank you so much.” For now, it’s all about embracing the comeback and sharing the experience with his supporters.

The bond with the crowd has always been a big motivator for him. For instance, during the Australian Open fourth round, when he was struggling with his health, he gave a touching shoutout: “Today the support of the crowd was fundamental, I needed it. Today 90% of the credit is yours and I tried to make you happy for 10%.” That connection clearly means the world to him.

Now, as he prepares to face Argentina’s Mariano Navone in his opening match in Rome, the big question is: can Sinner shake off the pressure and make a deep run in his first tournament back? Share your thoughts below!