The world’s number one Jannik Sinner, who is about to return to action after a three -month suspension for doping, thought of leaving temporarily even while successfully defended his Australian Open title, but said he was returning with a new mindset.
Sinner accepted a three -month suspension in February after an agreement with Wada (World Anti -Doping Agency), which had appealed to the arbitration court of the sport against the decision of an independent court in August that innovated.
The Italian had tested positive for the anabolic Closball, which Sinner said he entered his system through a member of his support team through massage and sports therapy.
Sinner beat Australian Open in January, with the case of Wada hanging over him, and was questioned during an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai on Tuesday (29) if he had already considered abandoning tennis.
“Yes, yes. I remember before this year’s Australian open, I was not in a very happy time because there was still that case of doping,” said Sinner.
“I didn’t really feel comfortable in the locker room, in the cafeteria. It was a little as if some players looked at me differently and I didn’t like it. And there I said it is heavy to live tennis that way. I didn’t feel comfortable and then said, perhaps after Australia, a little free time in the sense of taking a short pause, I would do me well,” said the tennis player.
Sinner was then forced to a break for the suspension, but is now back in training for the Masters 1000 of Rome in May.
“Slowly, I’m going back to the pace of real training with a goal in front of me,” Sinner said.
“Sometimes I’m very well, sometimes there is a fall and I don’t know why, so I will certainly be very happy to return to the court. Especially in Rome, it’s a special tournament for me, but I certainly come with a slightly different mindset. I miss the competition. I’m very happy that this phase now is over and I’m ready to start again.”
Sinner’s agreement brought a lot of criticism from current and old players, with Serena Williams saying she was banned for 20 years and would have her Grand Slam titles withdrawn if she had tested positively.
“I don’t even want to answer. Everyone is free to say whatever they want, everyone can judge, but that’s fine,” said Sinner.
“It’s important to me that I know how this happened, but above all what I went through and it was very difficult. I don’t want anyone really to go through something innocent because it wasn’t easy, but we’re in a world where everyone can say whatever they want, so it’s okay.”
