A darkish cloud has hung over Jannik Sinner ever because it was revealed he failed two drug assessments for a banned steroid final yr. Even because the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) dominated he bore “no fault or negligence,” the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) appealed the decision and known as for Sinner to be banned “between one and two years.”
Simply days earlier than the 2025 Australian Open, Sinner found that the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) would hearken to his plea at an April 16-17 hearing in Lausanne. If the CAS had been to rule in WADA’s favor, Sinner could possibly be banned for as much as two years.
Amid the allegations, Sinner has remained razor-focused on tennis. After a dominant win on the Australian Open — his third consecutive hard-court main title — Sinner defined how he is been capable of practice his thoughts to not give attention to his impending trial.
“I simply got here off a tremendous run once more right here. I need to get pleasure from this second, to be trustworthy,” Sinner said after Sunday’s win. “Then it is the listening to. We all know now the dates, and that is it. I imply, I need to get pleasure from this one now. I imply, what occurred, occurred, no? As I all the time say, I maintain enjoying like this as a result of I’ve a transparent thoughts on what occurred. If I do know if I’d be responsible, I’d not play like this, and that is it.”
Sinner reiterated he is “not pondering” about his doping saga even when reminded of it day by day. The Italian is “trying ahead” to proving his innocence in entrance of a tribunal of CAS judges in three months.
It is slightly jarring for Sinner to confess he’d not have the ability to win on the highest stage if he knew he was responsible. The 23-year-old has dominated his friends with a 47-3 run as World No. 1, together with three majors inside 12 months. On Sunday, he turned solely the third participant since 2000 to win a grand slam last with out dealing with a break level, and solely the fifth participant to win three consecutive hard-court majors.
