A year after ban, Sinner returns to Indian Wells looking for first win of 2026
For Jannik Sinner, returning to the BNP Paribas Open this week means returning to a place where he has had success, but also a big absence.
Sinner, ranked second in the world behind Carlos Alcaraz, was a semifinalist at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2023 and 2024. That stretch of deep runs into the draw was interrupted in 2025 when Sinner accepted a three-month suspension from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for a steroid. That meant Sinner, then the No. 1 player in the ATP rankings, missed both Indian Wells and Miami in 2025, but did not miss any of the Grand Slam events.
“The preparation is going really well,” Sinner said in his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday in Indian Wells. “It’s a special place. Missing out last year makes it a bit more special and I hope for a good tournament.”
The BNP Paribas Open will be the 24-year-old Italian star’s third tournament of the year, and he’s looking for his first title of 2026. At the Australian Open in January, Sinner was up two sets to one on Novak Djokovic but lost the final two sets 6-4, 6-4. ln February in Doha, Sinner reached the quarterfinals but lost in three sets to Jakub Mensik.
“The season is good. I mean, semis in Australia and in Doha what happened, but I’m very happy now and the mental moment I am in,” Sinner said. “We try to maximize our potential. Season has just started, so it’s a very important couple of tournaments for me before going on the clay. I know that. But I feel good.”
Sinner comes to Indian Wells off a stellar if controversial 2025 season that saw many of his fellow players question the short length of his suspension and that the suspension fit into the schedule to allow Sinner to play in all four Grand Slams. The positive test chalked up to an error by a physical therapist. To resolve the case, Sinner accepted the three-month ban.
Despite missing those three months, Sinner’s 2025 season included a win at two of those Slams, the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as well as four other titles. He also reached four other finals, including falling at the U.S. Open and Roland Garros, each time to the man who is No. 1 in the world now, Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner appears to be serious about getting his first win in Indian Wells and his first win on the season.
“I feel like we are doing a great job. It has been a very hard practice week here for me. We spent many, many hours of practice,” Sinner said. “Very happy with how I’m feeling on the court, and obviously we try to go as far as possible in the tournament.
“In the same time, we also try to improve a couple of things,” Sinner added. “I’m trying to be slightly more aggressive at times on the baseline, and then we see how it goes.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Jannik Sinner returns to Indian Wells after 2025 suspension
