Jannik Sinner, World No. 1, Admits Recent Doping Scandal Severely Impacted His Health and Mental Well-being
Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1 tennis player, has opened up about how the recent doping scandal has taken a heavy toll on both his physical health and mental well-being. Over the past few months, as Sinner faced a doping investigation, sleepless nights and health issues have led to a decline in both his physical and mental state.
From March until just last week, only Sinner and tennis authorities were aware of the doping investigation involving two positive test results for the Italian player.
Although Sinner ultimately proved his innocence due to the use of a contaminated product with no fault or negligence on his part, the process has left a deep and negative impact.
Since the first three months of the season, during which he won three titles and recorded a 22-1 win-loss record, Sinner has struggled to maintain his form. Despite winning titles at the Halle and Cincinnati Masters, he has also faced several injuries and losses.
“This has affected me greatly because I was sick, didn’t feel much energy on the court. There were many sleepless nights thinking about this, and perhaps that’s why I faced physical issues. I feel different on the court, not happy, not myself. But I hope I can overcome this, though it will still take some time,” Sinner shared.
The Italian Player Holds Low Expectations for the US Open
Given what he has gone through, Sinner admitted that he doesn’t have high expectations for the 2024 US Open, despite his recent victory in Cincinnati. “I don’t expect much because of everything that’s happening. I’m still trying my best, but I’ll accept whatever comes and hope this experience makes me stronger,” Sinner said.
The investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, but the situation has sparked widespread criticism within the tennis community.
Many were unhappy that the Italian player was allowed to continue competing while the investigation was still ongoing. Even though the matter is now behind him, Sinner continues to face significant pressure. The 23-year-old is scheduled to play his first-round match at the 2024 US Open at 12:30 AM on August 28. His opponent will be Mackenzie McDonald, currently ranked 140th in the world.
Although he has already become a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open, Sinner has yet to achieve significant success at the US Open, having only reached the quarterfinals once. If he cannot shake off the pressure, the Italian player could face an early exit at the final Grand Slam event of the year.
