Jannik Sinner has admitted he was worried about the long process of being cleared from doping allegations after testing positive twice earlier this year.
The world number one has had mixed preparation heading into the US Open as on the court he managed to win the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati to boost his form and confidence.
However the Italian has had to deal with controversy off the court after the Anti-Doping agency revealed that Sinner had beared no fault or negligence after failing drugs tests twice in March around Indian Wells.
Sinner was able to prove that the substance came from a spray used by his now former physio as a five month long process came to an end.
Describing the process Sinner admitted he was relieved that the process has ended but was also worried during the process as the outcome was out of his control, “Yeah, just obviously a relief for myself having this result,” Sinner explained.
“And, yeah, so it’s just good to be back here. It’s an amazing city, amazing place to play tennis. I will just trying to enjoy as much as I can and hopefully having a good tournament.
“Yeah, of course it’s not ideal before a Grand Slam. But, you know, in my mind I know that I haven’t done anything wrong. I had to play already months with this in my head, but, you know, just remembering myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect that these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping.
“Of course I was worried, because it was the first time for me, you know, and hopefully the last time that I am in this situation, position. There also a different part we have to see is the amount I had in my body, which is 0.000000001, so there are a lot of zeroes before coming up a 1.
“So I was worried, of course, because I’m always the player who was working very, very carefully in this. I believe I’m a fair player on and off the court. And yeah, that’s a bit how it all was and how it went.”
It was a long process for Sinner who was desperate to clear his name and did so in the end.
Now the Italian has ended his partnership with his physio team after losing confidence since the news came out.
Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference at the US Open Sinner admitted he was frustrated at the timing and spoke about the changes made to his team, “Yeah, look, the outcome of the result was Monday. It was a long process. It started with obviously this mistake what they made. But, you know, I was always concerned that it might come out at some point,” Sinner told journalists on Friday in New York.
“In the beginning was a different view, but then after, you know, it was a little bit more complicated. I went through, like, me and my team and the lawyers, I’m just a simple tennis player, no? That’s what I love to do.
“But, you know, this is also part of the rules of anti-doping and WADA and ITIA, so I was happy to collaborate obviously and getting the best result possible, knowing my innocence of this whole case. So as I said, you know, it’s finally out, so it is what it is, yeah.
“Now, because of these mistakes, I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them. The only thing I just need right now, just some clean air. You know, I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air.”
Now the dust has settled on the case Sinner can get on with playing tennis but how will his reputation be affected after this latest scandal?
The Italian gave a very detailed response on the matter, “For me, I always believe that I kept playing tennis because in my mind I knew that I haven’t done anything wrong. I knew that I was very clean, and I knew that I was always very looking forward to be a fair player,” Sinner ended his press conference by saying.
“Obviously it’s coming out this notification, it might change a couple of things, but whoever knows me very well knows that I haven’t done and I would never do something what goes against the rules. Obviously it has been a very tough moment for me and my team.
“It still is, because it’s quite, you know, fresh, this everything. Yeah, I mean, let’s see. Here I also know who is my friend and who is not my friend, no, because my friends, they know that I would never do that, and sticking together. About the reputation, we will see now, now moving forward, no? Because this, I can’t really control. So let’s see.”
Sinner will now return his attention to on-court matters when he takes on Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round of the US Open.
