Jannik Sinner hailed the passionate backing he has received from his colourful support in Rome after returning to tennis on Saturday with a confident win at the Italian Open. World number one Sinner swept past Mariano Navone in front of over 10,000 fans at the Foro Italico, looking nothing like a player who has spent three months out of the game due to a doping ban he says he grudgingly accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Italian was roared on by fans dressed as carrots and decked out in orange in honour of his ginger hair, as he beat Navone in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.