"I felt lost" - Jannik Sinner turns emotional, reveals how he reacted in shock after finding out about positive doping test
Jannik Sinner described how he got to find out about his positive doping test. The Italian tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol which was found in his sample during the Indian Wells Masters, though the ITIA cleared him. However, the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the organization's ruling.
Sinner has had an exceptional 2024 season so far, that has seen him win seven titles, including two Grand Slams (Australian Open and US Open), and three Masters 1000 titles. The Italian's doping controversy has been a talking point in the tennis world and he recently spoke about finding out about it for the first time.
Speaking to Esquire UK, Jannik Sinner said that he was in Monte-Carlo when his manager Alex Vittur told him about the positive result. The 23-year-old said that he had a moment of blankness and was lost.
"I was in my flat in Monte Carlo. Alex calls me and says, 'Jannik you are positive.' And I say, 'Yes Alex, I am always positive.' 'No, you are positive for doping.' I had a moment of total blank. I didn't know what to say. Nothing was coming out of me. I immediately tried to understand how this could have happened, because I did absolutely nothing. I didn't even want to believe it. I felt lost. Even now, I don't understand it," Sinner said.
"He has done nothing wrong, He knows he is innocent" -Jannik Sinner's coach Darren Cahill
Jannik Sinner's coach Darren Cahill lauded the Italian, stating that the World No. 1 could survive anything after his doping controversy. The Aussie also said that the 23-year-old is an inspiration to him.
"Jannik has understood that he can survive anything in life, after this he is no longer afraid of anything. Two Slams and number 1. Jannik is also an inspiration to me. Everyone talks about the team around him, but he is the leader," Cahill told Gazzetta Dello Sport (as quoted by Punto del Break).
The Aussie also said that Sinner knew he was innocent.
"He is the one who sets the path. He has done nothing wrong. He knows he is innocent. We will wait for the CAS verdict. In the meantime, Jannik will hold his head high," Cahill said.
Sinner will now compete in the ATP Finals in Turin as the top seed. The Italian has been drawn in the Ilie Nastase Group alongside fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, fifth seed Taylor Fritz and seventh seed Alex de Minaur.
Jannik Sinner will start his campaign against De Minaur in what will be the eighth meeting between the two. The Italian has won all of his prior seven matches against the Aussie, with the most recent one coming in the final of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. Sinner won that encounter 7-5, 6-4 to win his second title of the 2024 season.
The Italian will make his third appearance at the ATP Finals, with his best performance coming in 2023 when he made it all the way to the final before losing to Novak Djokovic.