Just before the start of the 2024 US Open, it was reported that Jannik Sinner had been found positive to Clostebol twice in March. The world number 1 – who has had to face a long trial in recent months – has managed to prove the total unintentional of his contamination and was found innocent by ITIA.
The controversy is not settled yet, as WADA has the right to appeal against the acquittal and has requested additional documentation from ITIA before deciding whether or not to appeal. Some players openly sided with the Italian ace, while others attacked him hard and criticized the anti-doping system. Some players claim that the two-time Grand Slam champion has been given a favourable treatment because of his huge status, which would have allowed him not to suffer any suspension pending the final verdict.
It has not been easy months for the 23-year-old from San Candido, who was very stressed by this case and spent several sleepless nights. Although he did not express his best tennis, Sinner won the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the US Open in a sequence, embellishing a truly exceptional season.
An amazing mental strength
The Italian champion is the undisputed number 1 at this moment and his huge advantage over opponents in the ATP ranking certifies the greatness of his 2024. During the various interviews released after the US Open, Jannik admitted that it was not a simple period and that he hurt to break his relationship with Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi.
Guest on ‘Radio Anch’io Sport’ on Rai Radio 1, top coach Vincenzo Santopadre has analyzed the improvements that have allowed Jannik Sinner to make the ultimate quality leap and become the number one in the world. The former coach of Matteo Berrettini has highlighted one quality in particular: that of knowing how to wait for the right moment to change the game and strike the decisive blow to the opponents. “I think his biggest improvement in the last few months has been to be able to read and capture the moments of the match, a characteristic typical of the extraordinary champion. Jannik has improved his tactical reading of the match. Even his opponents feel this strength and the game is done”.
Santopadre then commented on the case involving Sinner and, above all, the superficial considerations expressed by some of the experts and colleagues. “The events outside the camp could have destabilized anyone, but he is a tractor, has a balance that is not disturbed by anything and nobody. It has a quality of play decidedly superior to all, is the strongest. I am rather sorry that even the insiders and colleagues of Jannik have not been informed and have thrown words into the wind,” explained Santopadre. “For those who do sport and should have a developed sports culture, I find it quite serious. Jannik has held a shot here too, is a gentleman. Not pleasant affair, I read very carefully all the report. When talking, you should first get the facts.”
The support of friends
The Italian ace has won six titles this year – including two Majors and two Masters 1000 – demonstrating impressive consistency especially in the hard court tournaments. Speaking with Sky Sport during the Davis Cup event in Bologna, former Top 10 and Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini paid tribute to Sinner: “It was special for a million reasons. It showed me that my level belongs to the elite of the sport, and then the result spoke for itself. There, I felt that I had returned to that level, something I had been questioning during the tough months. It’s no coincidence that after that match, I managed to win two tournaments, which gave me a great boost. Seeing Jannik so high is surprising, but not so much because when you play with a strong player, with those characteristics, you know he will reach the top; his path has always been clear, even when people said it wouldn’t be so, I was sure he would become the strongest of all.”
He also added: “There are many things I would steal from Jannik. One of all is the dedication to work, the ability to always want to improve. He reached the tennis elite very young and never wanted to stop, and if you hear him talk, he is always looking to the future; that is a quality that great players have. That kind of focus is somewhat innate and worked on a bit; so I try to do the same, keep striving, keep looking for goals, feel important stimuli. We’re not just talking about ranking or tournaments, but about the joy of surpassing ourselves.”