World number one Sinner cruised through to a third-round clash with lucky loser Jesper de Jong with a simple win over Argentinian Navone in front of over 10,000 enthusiastic fans at the Foro Italico.
The Italian had not played since winning the Australian Open in January due to the suspension he accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) the following month.
He twice tested positive for traces of banned substance clostebol in March last year, although WADA accepted that the 23-year-old had been accidentally contaminated by his physiotherapist.
And Sinner delighted a partisan and packed centre court in the Italian capital, shaking off the cobwebs as he eyes a run at Roland Garros later this month.
"I tried to give everything I have, you know, I think that's the only thing I can do. That's the only thing I can control right now." said Sinner.
"It's an amazing feeling. It's a special feeling. I never take things granted. And yeah, I'm just happy to be back."
The three-time Grand Slam winner's last clay court match was his epic semi-final defeat to rival Carlos Alcaraz at last year's French Open, and while the crowd matched such a big occasion on Saturday, the tennis did not.
Alcaraz was a short walk away at the Stadio Olimpico to watch his footballer friend Patric play for Lazio while Sinner took on world number 99 Navone.
And the Spaniard, who faces Laslo Djere on Sunday night, would not have been surprised to hear that Sinner dealt with Navone in a perfunctory, unflashy manner to begin his comeback in style.