ROME (AP) — Jannik Sinner nearly took a long hiatus from tennis earlier this year, contemplating a break before ultimately agreeing to a three-month suspension in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
In a recent interview with Italian state TV RAI, the top-ranked Sinner admitted, “Yes,” when asked if he ever thought of stepping away from the sport.
“Before the Australian Open this year was a tough phase,” Sinner shared. “I felt unsettled in the locker room, where we gathered for meals. Other players began to look at me differently. At that moment, I thought, ‘Maybe I need a break after Australia.’ But I didn’t want the ban.”
In January, Sinner clinched his second consecutive title at the Australian Open.
It wasn’t until February that a settlement was reached in the doping case after WADA contested a prior ruling by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which had cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing due to what it deemed an accidental contamination involving a banned anabolic steroid in March 2024.
“Accepting this three-month ban was quite difficult for me,” Sinner reflected. “I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, so why face this consequence? But after discussions with my lawyer about the worst-case scenarios, we decided to go through with it.”
The handling of Sinner’s situation raised eyebrows regarding potential double standards. His positive tests were kept under wraps until August, as he successfully appealed against a provisional ban. Subsequently, he triumphed at the U.S. Open in September.
The settlement also sparked conversations about its timing, as it conveniently allows Sinner to return next week at the Italian Open—his home tournament—without missing any Grand Slam events.
“The past year has been incredibly stressful,” Sinner stated in the interview aired late Tuesday. “Yet we managed to achieve remarkable results. We kicked off this year on a strong note, but then the unexpected happened. Initially, it felt odd to find myself in such circumstances, with many unforeseen events unfolding off the court.”
Some prominent players suggested Sinner received leniency in his treatment.
“I won’t comment further. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. The critical thing for me is that I know the truth of what transpired,” Sinner remarked. “I wouldn’t wish the experience I endured upon any innocent person.”
Even though Sinner participated in only one tournament this year, he managed to maintain his top ranking, as both No. 2 Alexander Zverev and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz failed to accumulate enough points to surpass him during his absence.
“I miss competing,” Sinner expressed. “I’m thrilled this chapter is behind me, and I’m ready to get back on the court.”
