Jannik Sinner’s ban could be ‘seismic’ but his mental strength amid doping scandal is ‘ridiculous’ as per top journalist
The looming CAS appeal doesn't seem to affect Jannik Sinner, as he has been producing powerful performances.
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Jannik Sinner (via ATP/X)
Jannik Sinner, in spite of being in the midst of a huge doping controversy, has maintained his composure and didn’t let the uncertainty affect him. Top journalist Gigi Salmon, who is Sky Sports Tennis’ lead presenter, is amazed at Sinner’s mental strength and made her feelings known on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal, which looms larger.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) caused a stir last August with their announcement of Sinner escaping a ban after clostebol contamination. They made the shocking announcement just before the US Open which Sinner surprisingly won with a straight-set victory over home favorite Taylor Fritz.
He didn’t stop there. After beating Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final, Sinner capped off his incredible season by taking home his first ATP Finals trophy and guiding Italy to their second Davis Cup title. The 23-year-old then kickstarted his campaign for the 2025 season on a high note by breezing past Alexander Zverev to defend the Australian Open.
What impressed me most about him last year was that with everything going on was how mentally strong he stayed. It was just ridiculous. He will know the punishment he could get and if it is one year, that would be seismic.
Gigi Salmon told Tennis365
While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) too believes in Sinner’s innocence, they hold the Italian responsible for negligence, and hence they demanded a ban of between one to two years on the three-time Grand Slam champion. The Australian Open was probably Sinner’s last Major of the season as CAS’ hearing is in April this year, and a possible ban will force him to spend his time on the sidelines.
Vijay Amritraj lauds Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill
Former tennis ace from India, Vijay Amritraj, credited Jannik Sinner‘s success to his coach Darren Cahill. Under Cahill, and not to forget coach Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner lifted three Majors, clinched the ATP Finals, and became a World No.1 for the first time.
The one major factor in Sinner’s game has been Cahill. I always knew that Darren had a very strong mental approach, and his ability to impart that to you and help you reach a point where you believe in yourself, where there is no second place for me- only first- has been crucial.
Vijay Amritraj said on the sidelines of the Chennai Open Challenger (H/T: The Times of India)
Cahill, however, won’t be a part of Sinner’s entourage after the 2025 season. The 59-year-old, who had also coached Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, and Simona Halep, will part ways with Sinner and had declared last year that he would quit coaching after leaving Sinner’s team.
Sinner is currently not in action and is yet to participate in a tournament post-Australian Open. He will be back on the tour at the Qatar Open, which he missed last year.
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Gouri Das
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