JANNIK SINNER said he is still haunted by his doping controversy which marred his 2025 season.
In March 2024, the Italian World No2 tested positive for banned substance clostebol which cast doubt over his sporting future.
An independent tribunal had found that Sinner, 24, bore “no fault or negligence”, but he received a three-month doping ban which ran from February to May last year.
Sinner told The Athletic: “It was difficult. Now it’s tough to say because I know the ending, you know?
“It was difficult for me, but also for the family. I tried to stay with the people I really love, which at times worked very well. At times it was a bit disappointing, too.
“I didn’t know exactly what’s going to happen. So I tried still to enjoy it when you go out on the court, but you still have it in your head.”
RAD TO WORSE
Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open dream dealt huge blow after cruel draw
Welcome offer
Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10
There was a threat of Sinner being sidelined for a longer period, as he awaited a possible two-year ban following an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Instead, after he won the Australian Open, he was conveniently awarded a three-month sentence which meant he did not miss any Grand Slams.
But in April 2025, he told Italian TV station RAI that he “thought about giving up everything”.
When he returned for the French Open in June, Sinner blew three straight match points in the fourth set before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final set tie-breaker.
With a fresh slate to start from in 2026, Sinner hopes to kick off the season on the right note by winning his third straight Australian Open.
There is also the added goal of trying to regain his World No1 ranking from Alcaraz, who also beat him to the US Open title last September.
Sinner added: “I surrounded myself with really, really good people. I’m very happy with the people I have. That for me is most important.
“Whatever comes on court, results-wise, is all an extra. I live the sport in a very different way now, which is relaxed, but I give everything I have.
“It’s a balance of everything. So yeah, I’m very happy.”
Read the full article here
