Sinner in top form despite doping allegations

Jannik Sinner has had a dream 2024 in terms of his career, establishing himself as the best tennis player in the world after an outstanding season.

The Italian concluded his participation in the Shanghai Masters 1000 with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final, a victory that will see him remain the world’s number one player until the end of the year and cement his status as the best player in the world.

Despite these successes, Sinner admits that the threat of a doping ban remains a heavy burden, affecting both his game and his emotional wellbeing.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has lodged an appeal against the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) ruling that cleared Sinner of using the banned substance clostebol, which was found in his tests on two occasions in March this year.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will ultimately decide Sinner’s fate, whether or not he faces the two-year ban requested by WADA.

Despite being found not guilty, Sinner still faces uncertainty over possible sanctions.

“There are moments when I think about it and it’s uncomfortable. You take success in a different way,” admitted the first Italian tennis player in history to finish the year as world number one.

However, the Italian has tried to stay strong and focused on the court. “I try to enjoy the game as much as possible. You have to accept it. I’m strong when I’m on the court. I don’t think about it, I stay focused,” he stressed.

Speaking about his development as a player, Sinner highlighted the work he has put in both physically and mentally, which has allowed him to improve his performance significantly.

“I feel physically prepared to play at a much higher intensity, and mentally I’m prepared to deal with all the tough situations on the court,” said the player, who was born in San Candido, a small town in the province of Bolzano.

The victory in Shanghai was particularly emotional for Sinner, who highlighted the difficulty of facing Djokovic in a final and the presence of tennis legends such as Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Ferrero in the stands.

“It’s a very special day. Playing Novak in a final is always tough. I’m happy with how I’m handling the situations on the court, trying to control what I can,” he said. –Insidethegames.biz