Jannik Sinner, the 23-year-old Italian tennis star, shared recently that he went through a very dark period in his career. He even thought about quitting the sport with a doping suspension looming. In an interview with Italian state broadcaster RAI, Sinner opened up about the emotional toll of his three-month suspension and the scrutiny he faced from the tennis community.
Sinner’s nightmare started when he tested positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, twice in March of 2022. Despite at first facing a potential ban, the ITIA had decided that he was not to blame. At first, they blamed contamination from an over-the-counter steroid spray used by his physio, but then when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He finally agreed to a suspension, retroactive from Feb. 9 to May 4, 2023.
Reflecting on his mental state before the Australian Open earlier this year, Sinner admitted that he was not in a happy place. He went on to explain how alienating it was during locker room interactions, where suddenly his teammates started seeing him in a new light.
“I remember before the Australian Open this year, it wasn’t a very happy time. I didn’t really feel comfortable in the locker room, where we were eating. Players were looking at me differently. I said to myself: ‘Maybe, I need to take some time off after Australia’.” – Jannik Sinner
Sinner continued to perform at a high level, winning both the U.S. Open and Australian Open during the uncertainty surrounding his suspension. The emotional baggage of being branded as one of the dopers has crushed him.
I wasn’t ready to roll with these three months. It was hard to make sense of because I knew, in my gut, that I didn’t do anything wrong. So why should I have to shoulder this cost?’” he recounted, describing his struggle.
Sinner’s remarkable run hasn’t just attracted the attention of everyday fans. As Novak Djokovic noted, Sinner’s example creates “very bad representation for our sport.” For his part, Sinner made it clear how hard it was to face public perception and opposition during this dark chapter.
“I don’t even want to answer. Everyone is free to say what they want, everyone can judge, but that’s okay.” – Jannik Sinner
As Sinner approaches the end of his suspension, he faces the true impact of his ordeal. This turning point has a powerful impact on his career from here on out. He even contemplated quitting tennis altogether. Now, he’s all in on his comeback to the sport he adores.
“I don’t wish it on anyone to really pass as innocent something like that because it wasn’t easy, but we are in a world where everyone can say what they want, so it’s okay.” – Jannik Sinner
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