Jannik Sinner’s amazing season has also gone through some difficult moments. The world number 1 – who has just won his second Grand Slam title at the US Open – suffered a hip injury during the spring and ended up in the middle of a delicate doping case just before the last Major of the season.
Jannik Sinner© YouTube screenshot
The young Italian champion was found positive to Clostebol in March during the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and had been temporarily suspended for a few days. The 23-year-old from San Candido had understood immediately the origin of his contamination and ITIA had revoked his suspension allowing him to continue playing in the following months.
The ITIA’s verdict was announced immediately after Jannik’s triumph at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and was a relief for the two-time Grand Slam champion. Although he was found innocent by the ITIA, WADA still has the right to appeal against the acquittal. The tennis world has been divided on this controversy. Some players have been very critical of Sinner and the anti-doping system, which would have guaranteed favourable treatment for the Italian champion. Other players – instead – have defended the world number 1 claiming his innocence.
A controversial case
The US Open champion suffered a damage to his image due to this case, deciding to close his professional relationship with Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi. A few days ago, it was announced that Marco Panichi will be his new fitness coach. Despite external reviews, Sinner has always remained focused on tennis and has expressed his best tennis in the decisive rounds of the US Open.
Jannik Sinner© YouTube screenshot
Casper Ruud also spoke about the doping case of Jannik Sinner. Speaking to tv2.no, the Norwegian number 1 takes the side of the world number 1: “If you have read the documents and understood the process in this type of cases, then understand that there is no discrimination here – said Ruud -. What did well Sinner, to defend himself, was that he managed to find an explanation within 15 days of positive. He quickly understood where it came from. Not many athletes can find an explanation in 15 days, but Jannik has. It is in his favour that he has quickly discovered where the substance came from and has a reasonable explanation”.
“I have become familiar with the case and the rules – continues his analysis on the three-time Grand Slam finalist – Sinner claims to have introduced the drug into his body following contact by a member of his staff who had used a counter-top spray containing Clostebol on a small wound. If you have read the documents and understood the process here there is no discrimination. The tennis integrity agency (ITIA) said that scientific experts have concluded that Sinner’s explanation is credible. What I can say – said Ruud – is that the tests show very low concentrations, it is an extremely small dose”.
Ruud finally broadened the reflection on how little it takes for an athlete to be at risk: “In a restaurant, both the chef and the waiter can put something in your food, if they have something against you. I hear it every day. I live under strict supervision, and it’s something I think about, and I know Jannik thinks about it too”. The Italian ace has more than 4000 points of advantage over Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, so it is almost certain to end the season at the top of the ATP ranking without shocking surprises.
Simone Vagnozzi praises Sinner
During a long interview with ‘Il Corriere dello Sport’, Simone Vagnozzi discussed Jannik’s recent rise: “The victory in Australia was an explosive bomb. It was the first Slam, recovering from a two-set disadvantage. Since Melbourne, Jannik knows himself better, knows how he feels in certain matches, and is able to control the moments. The ability to manage the game comes from tactical and emotional growth. His mental strength is simply incredible. In New York, we experienced a sense of liberation due to everything that had happened.”
Jannik Sinner and his team© @HqSinner X account
He also added: “Darren and I had to understand the moments and try to help him as much as possible. If normally you think two or three times before expressing an idea, in those months, it was necessary to do it up to 10 times. We tried to make him live as best as he could, with fewer negative thoughts in his head. It was a complicated situation; we couldn’t talk about it with anyone outside the team; it was a first time for all of us.” The next official tournament of the Italian champion will be the ATP 500 in Beijing.