Jannik Sinner, the rising star of Italian tennis, is gearing up for his first-round match against McDonald at the US Open in New York. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Sinner in recent months, as he was caught up in a doping affair that took a toll on him mentally.
Following a long trial, Sinner was ultimately acquitted, but the ordeal led to him parting ways with his trainer Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi. Despite winning the Cincinnati Open with less than ideal physical condition, Sinner is now setting his sights on the US Open, admitting that his expectations are low for the Grand Slam event.
In an interview with ESPN, Sinner opened up about the challenges he faced this year. Reflecting on the doping scandal, he remarked, “Now I want to leave everything behind because I’ve been through a bad period. I managed to win Cincinnati, even if I had no hope of doing well. Honestly, my expectations at the US Open are low, I need time to get back into a good mood and my body is not yet in perfect condition. Any victory will be positive for me, I have to rebuild little by little.”
Recalling the tough months he endured, Sinner explained, “Since I found out what had happened, I have not been myself on the court. I lost the joy, I forced myself to continue fighting for every ball, but it was difficult to compete in that way. I got sick and had physical problems. Problems arose that came from the stress I felt for this process.”
Despite the challenges, Sinner expressed relief that his innocence was proven and emphasized the need for clarity to ensure his reputation remains intact. He stressed, “I know that it will take some time to clarify everything so that my reputation does not suffer and so that people fully understand everything that happened.”
As Sinner takes to the courts at Flushing Meadows, he faces a new chapter in his career, hoping to put the doping scandal behind him and focus on his performance at the US Open. The tennis world will be watching to see how the young Italian bounces back from the adversity he has faced.
