Jannik Sinner had many experiences in 2024, some very nice and some quite sad. On the tennis court, the Italian ace was almost unbeatable this season collecting a series of really incredible results. The 23-year-old from San Candido has rewritten every Italian tennis record, winning the Australian Open and the US Open demonstrating crazy mental strength even in the most difficult moments.
The world number 1 has also won the Masters 1000 in Miami and Cincinnati, not to mention the triumphs at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam and Halle. His year would have been practically perfect if there had not been the case of doping, due to a contamination with Clostebol linked to the negligence of Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi.
Jannik has been able to prove his innocence and was acquitted by ITIA before the start of the US Open, but a few days ago it came to light that WADA had appealed against the acquittal. It will be another complicated months for the 2-time Grand Slam champion, who could be suspended for a few months for negligence.
Sinner is doing his best to stay focused on the tennis court and finish his season in the best way possible. Its main goal is to be 100% for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Jannik’s rise in the last year and a half has helped to grow Italy’s passion for tennis, but it also brought morbid attention to the 2-time Grand Slam champion.
An astonishing rumor
Sinner started this year a love-story with his colleague Anna Kalinskaya, who often follows his matches in his box and with whom there seems to be a really good feeling. According to well-know newspaper ‘Il Corriere Dello Sport’, Jannik Sinner has recently proposed marriage in New York. It is not known whether his lover, Russian player Anna Kalinskaya, accepted but this news has set fire in Italy.
Actually, at an event on the sidelines of the tournament, Jannik, a little pissed off by everything that’s going on around them would have said: What if, to avoid all this, I asked you to marry me? Incredulous, she would have said: “I will tell you that I want to…”. To date, neither Jannik nor Anna have confirmed the facts. Other media announce that the wedding will take place next year.
The World number 1 needs a lot of peace at the moment to face the last part of the season and collaborate with the authorities in the doping process. In a recent interview with Tennis Actu, former Top 10 Lucas Pouille opened up on Sinner’s doping case: “I think we’re lost with the different entities. Beyond all the medical authorities, the tennis tour already has the ATP, the ITF, the Grand Slams and the WTA.
Jannik Sinner was cleared by an independent tribunal. Now, it’s the WADA that is appealing. Once again, it’s going in all directions. We don’t really know what’s going on. Are there double standards? I would say yes. He was cleared, good for him. I don’t think he took anything intentionally. He’s a player I really liked, who I loved watching play, but for me, when you sign the anti-doping papers, you are responsible for everything you put into your body. It’s not a small product. So yes, what he had in his body was tiny… but still lucky, I want to say.”
Jannik will have to defend himself
Some players and insiders claim that Jannik received preferential treatment, having his provisional suspension lifted in record time without the news being made public. At the same time, hardly anyone expected WADA to appeal against the acquittal. It is not yet clear when the final verdict will be pronounced, but it will probably have to wait for the first months of 2025.
In a recent press conference, the World No.1 commented on this controversy: “Firstly, it is not a situation I would like to be in; it is very delicate, difficult, and also different. All I know is I try to remind myself that I have done nothing wrong, which already puts me in an advantageous position. Of course, I have spent sleepless nights during this time, and now it won’t be easy again. I am disappointed to be back in this situation, but I am just trying to stay focused somehow on my work and try to do everything possible to be ready for every match I play. But yes, it is a tough time for me and also for my team. I am keeping those close to me who know me well and know me as a person; they know me.”