Last week, Sinner opened up in the pages of Esquire UK about the moment of “total blank” he experienced as his manager, Alex Vittur, informed him of the doping violations that would threaten to derail his 2024 season.
“Alex calls me and says, ‘Jannik, you are positive,’” Sinner recalls. “And I answer him, ‘Yes, Alex, I’m 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…”
Read More: Jannik Sinner responds to WADA appealing his doping case: “I have nothing to hide”
Sinner has always maintained his innocence in the controversial case, and as he clinched a second Grand Slam title at the US Open and three ATP Masters 1000 trophies amid his career-best season he’s also had to fight to clear his name. A final decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected early next year, after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed an independent tribunal’s decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing.
Named one of the most marketable tennis players in the world despite the controversy, Sinner has the chance to add to his trophy haul on home soil. The world No. 1 is through to the semifinals at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where he will face No. 6 seed Casper Ruud on Saturday.
