Sinner considered quitting during doping case

Jannik Sinner, the world no. 1, said he “didn’t feel comfortable” playing tennis because other people looked at him “differently” during the Australian Open and that he “didn’t feel comfortable.”

The 23-year-old Italian won a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency in February, just days after successfully defending his Melbourne crown in March 2024 after two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol were returned.

Before the Australian Open this year, Sinner told Italian broadcaster RAI, “I was not in a very happy moment because that case was still doping.”

I thought the atmosphere of tennis was too much for me. I’ve always been someone who made jokes about and spoke with people in the dressing room, but it always changed. I wasn’t at ease.

Wada filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) asking for a maximum two-year ban despite the fact that Sinner had previously been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent panel.

After his ban expires on May 5, he is expected to return to the Italian Open (6 May) in Rome. He reached a settlement with the anti-doping agency for a shorter sanction.

Wada acknowledged that Sinner had no legitimate claim to be responsible for an unintentional contamination and that he had lost no business from the banned substance.

Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, claimed she would have received a 20-year ban and that her titles would have been “taken away” and that her ban had received criticism from some tennis players.

Tim Henman, the former British tennis champion, said the agreement was “too convenient,” while Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Swiss Grand Slam champion, said he “did not believe in clean sport anymore.”

Sinner’s assertion, however, was supported by the statement: “I don’t want to respond to criticism. People can freely express their opinions and make judgments about others.