"He was with me, my dad came... I felt safe" - Jannik Sinner uncovers how he "needed" coach Darren Cahill and his father during taxing doping test row
Jannik Sinner disclosed how having his father and coach Darren Cahill by his side during his doping test ordeal made him feel “safe.” The Italian credited his team for helping get through the emotionally draining period.
Sinner tested positive for low traces of Clostebol, a banned steroid, during his 2024 Indian Wells campaign in March. The amount found in his sample was deemed to have no performance-enhancing effects, and as per the evidence provided, it was determined that his physiotherapist had accidentally exposed him to the substance while using a Clostebol-containing medicine on his own injured finger.
Jannik Sinner was declared innocent in August 2024, but the WADA has since appealed the verdict, suggesting that the tennis player bore some “fault and negligence” for his team member’s error.
During an interview for Sky Sport and Intesa Sanpaolo, Jannik Sinner detailed how he relied on much-needed support from his team and family during the trying time.
"There are many things that happened in this period that I tried to put aside and understand what is the right thing to do at that moment," he said (translated from Italian).
The World No. 1 recalled that his coach Darren Cahill, who accompanies him to a few tournaments, decided to extend his stay to be with him and the team (which also includes his other coach, Simone Vagnozzi). He added that his father, Hanspeter, who joins him occasionally, increased his presence during the emotional period.
"I have to thank my team that was close to me the whole time because I needed it," Jannik Sinner remembered. "For example, Darren didn't go home to Australia and came to me, he was with me, my dad came. Thanks to them I felt safe. Protected.
"And that's why when I say that when you win tournaments or even matches that mean a lot, I always dedicate them to the people who are close to me, because without them I don't know how I could have overcome all of this. I'm happy with how I handled it because it was very difficult," he added.
Jannik Sinner on not letting his case hamper his on-court results: "The problem and the work had to be separated"
Jannik Sinner has lifted seven champion’s trophies in 2024, four of which came after he received the news that he had tested positive at Indian Wells.
Notably, the World No. 1 won the Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati just a day before his case was made public. He later said that he spent several hours answering the judges during online meetings in Cincinnati.
Just weeks later, Sinner hoisted his maiden US Open trophy and second Grand Slam of the season, blocking out the immense social media abuse he faced after his case came to light.
Speaking about how he compartmentalized, the 23-year-old said:
"The moment I go on the court and put on my cap, for me only the tennis ball exists," he said in the aforementioned interview. "On the court I feel safe. Then we saw that it is difficult to play like that, but that is another matter. But I feel safe.
"When I see the ball and I am about to serve, all my focus and desire is to hit the ball on the court. Because in the end it is my job and my passion. The problem and the work had to be separated. And I have always tried to feel good on the court, I have always trained, I have always prepared myself mentally to play tennis well and in the end it is precisely for this reason that I succeeded," he added.
Jannik Sinner also said that being true to himself and knowing he was innocent helped him focus on tennis and cut out all the noise.
"Also because, this is the most important thing, if I had known it was my fault, I don't think I would have played like that."
The Italian is preparing for the final Masters 1000 event of the season — the 2024 Paris Masters (October 28-November 3). He's chasing his 18th career title and fifth at the Masters 1000 level.