Jannik Sinner says the key to his recent success has been the support and trust of his team as the 23-year-old insists those around him know that he would never try to cheat the game.
As you probably know very well by now, the two-time Grand Slam champion twice failed a doping test in March but it wasn’t revealed until August. While the ITIA cleared the Italian and he didn’t get suspension, the WADA appealed that ruling and another decision is expected to come in early 2024.
But while going through the most challenging period of his career, Sinner has also some of his best results. Since the doping saga began, he won the US Open, the Shanghai Masters, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals with Italy. Also, the world No. 1 was triumphant at the Six Kings Slam exhibition and finished as runner-up in Beijing.
“Most important part is that people around me that know me as a human being trust me. That’s also the reason I kept playing the level I had. I had some ups and downs, I was emotionally a bit down, a bit heartbroken. But sometimes life gives you difficulties and you just have to stand for it,” Sinner said following Italy’s Davis Cup victory, via Reem Abulleil.
Sinner was ‘surprised’ by the WADA news
In late September, the WADA confirmed that they would lodge an appeal in the ITIA’s decision. When asked about it, the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion admitted he thought it would not come down to that.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed and also surprised of this appeal because we had three hearings. All three hearings came out very positively for me. I knew it a couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it’s going to go official,” the world No. 1 said in late September.
Some reports have indicated that the WADA ruling in the Sinner doping case could possibly come in February.
