Published 18:44 IST, November 18th 2024

'I Didn't Sleep Well': Jannik Sinner Admits He Struggled To Deal With Doping Allegations

Jannik Sinner is currently under investigation by the Court of Arbitration for Sports after being found with illegal doping substances in his blood stream.

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Jannik Sinner | Image: AP
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World No.1 men's Tennis player Jannik Sinner came under heavy scrutiny after a doping case was filed against him after presence of illegal substances in his blood stream in two seperate blood Tests back in March. 

Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoings but case is still open. After Italian's ATP finals win, Sinner opened up on going through difficulty in dealing with drug allegations. 

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Jannik Sinner opens up on Doping case

Sinner tested positive in two separate drug tests in March and a decision to clear him of wrongdoing was appealed by World Anti-Doping Agency in September. A final ruling is expected from Court of Arbitration for Sport early next year.

Sinner’s explanation was that banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiorapist, who h used a spray containing steroid to treat his own cut finger.

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Post his ATP finals win against Taylor Fritz, Jannik Sinner mitted that he h sleepless nights trying to deal with allegations. 

“I've kept on thinking about where we went wrong and what we could have done better,” Sinner said in Italian. “I h days where I wasn't feeling great; nights when I didn't sleep well.

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“But when I put my hat on, I don't think about what's going on beyond court,” Sinner ded. “I'm fortunate to have people around me who keep me stable. Thanks to m we've continued to work hard every day like re's no tomorrow and we've even improved in this period.”

Sinner's performance has approached domination lately

Sinner's victory in Turin was latest big achievement in a year full of m following his first two Grand Slam titles at Australian Open and U.S. Open and clinching year-end No. 1 ranking.

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Sinner has won 26 of his last 27 matches and ends ATP season with eight titles and an overall record of 70-6.

“ work will never stop. We know we still have room for improvement,” Sinner said. “But it’s been an incredible season and re’s no better place to finish season than here.”

Jannik Sinner with ATP Finals trophy | Image: AP

Also Re | Sinner case could have been communicated efficiently, ATP chair says

Sinner also beat Fritz in US Open final and group stage

Sinner maintained his recent mastery over Fritz, having also beaten American in U.S. Open final in September and in group stage this week at elite event for year’s top eight players.

By sweeping all five of his matches en route to trophy, Sinner earned $4.8 million — largest winner’s prize on men’s tour.

Sinner became first Italian to win finals and he went one step furr than last year, when he lost championship match to Novak Djokovic, who withdrew this time. And he did so without dropping a set – which was last accomplished by Ivan Lendl in 1986.

“I just tried to understand whatever works best for each opponent,” Sinner said. “It was a very high-level tournament from my side. At times, I couldn’t play better.”

crowd was decked out in orange — Sinner's me color

crowd inside Inalpi Arena included multiple clusters of fans wearing orange — a tribute to Sinner’s red- and orange-colored hair, and how he once ate carrots during a match. re were orange carrot costumes, orange wigs, orange hats, jackets and plenty of or orange items, too.

Some fans even h carrots in ir mouths.

crowd broke into its customary chant of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Sin-ner, Sin-ner” when Sinner produced a drop-shot winner to break for a 4-3 le in first set.

Sinner faced a break point while serving for first set but saved it with a big serve out wide that Fritz couldn’t return. n he served an ace — his 10th of set — to close it out.

Anor break by Sinner early in second and match was virtually over.

Also Re | Rafael Nal's farewell at Davis Cup

Sinner led 14-8 in aces and gave Fritz hardly any chances

Sinner served better than he h all week, leing 14-8 in aces without any double-faults.

“He served absolutely lights out. So many lines,” Fritz said. “He placed serve great. He took a lot of risk on second serve as well. I think that was probably one of his main game plans, to not let me attack his second serve.”

Fritz will still rise to a career-high No. 4

Fritz was attempting to become event’s first American champion since Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in title match 25 years ago.

Still, Fritz will rise to a career-high No. 4 in rankings on Monday after beating No. 2 Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreaker in semifinals on Saturday. That will make him highest-ranked American man since Andy Roddick was No. 4 in August 2007.

It’s latest in a series of achievements for Fritz, whose run in New York me him first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009.

“I feel like I’ve gone up a level and I’m much more confident in my game,” Fritz said.

At start of week, Fritz told Associated Press that his “career has always been a very stey progression and just improving a little bit each year.”

Davis Cup and Nal's retirement are next

Both Sinner and Fritz will conclude ir seasons representing defending champion Italy and United States, respectively, in Davis Cup finals, which start Tuesday in Malaga, Spain, and which will also mark Rafael Nal's retirement.

(With AP Inputs)

15:08 IST, November 18th 2024