Jannik Sinner Reviews the ‘Doubts’ and ‘Fears’ Faced by him Due to Doping Cases During US Open Last Year

Jannik Sinner had accepted a three-month ban earlier this year after testing positive for clostebol.

Jannik Sinner Reviews the ‘Doubts’ and ‘Fears’ Faced by him Due to Doping Cases During US Open Last Year

Jannik Sinner (image via X/Jannik Sinner)

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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner enters the US Open as the defending champion. In the lead-up to last year’s tournament, he faced significant off-court challenges when doping concerns emerged. Despite the scrutiny, he went on to lift the trophy in New York.

Earlier this season, Sinner claimed the Australian Open title in January. Soon after, it was revealed that he had tested positive for small traces of clostebol, an anabolic steroid, during the Indian Wells event in 2024. The findings led to investigations into two separate anti-doping violations. Sinner said in Rolex documentary:

I remember that last year I arrived in New York with many doubts and a certain fear that people would see me in a different way. The news of my positives came out five days before and it was very difficult for me to handle that. Off the court, there are things that cannot be controlled, but every time I step onto a court, I feel like I am in a safe place.

An independent panel cleared him in March 2024, stating there was no intent to enhance performance. However, Sinner later reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency. As part of the agreement, he accepted a three-month suspension that began shortly after his Melbourne victory.

His ban officially ended on May 4, allowing him to return at the Italian Open. The timing meant he avoided missing any of the Grand Slam tournaments. With the controversy behind him, Sinner has shifted his focus back to defending his title in New York.

Jannik Sinner set to play in China for the third consecutive year

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will not face each other at the China Open this year, as they’ve chosen different paths on the Asian swing. Last season in Beijing, the two produced a classic battle in the final, with Alcaraz coming from behind to defeat Sinner in three sets and deny him back-to-back titles.

Jannik Sinner US Open 2025
Jannik Sinner (image via Corrine Dubreuil)

Their rivalry has only intensified since then. They have clashed four more times, each in a final, with Alcaraz winning three—including Roland Garros—while Sinner earned a memorable victory at Wimbledon. Overall, the Spaniard holds a 9–5 advantage in their head-to-head record.

This time around, their schedules won’t align. Alcaraz will compete at the Japan Open in Tokyo for the first time, while Sinner continues his streak of appearances in China by returning for a third consecutive year. Fans will have to wait a little longer for their next showdown.

Both men are expected to regroup later in the swing. They plan to meet again in Shanghai for the Masters 1000, followed by the Paris Masters, before finishing their seasons at the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin.

Jannik Sinner secures easy US Open win

Top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner advanced with ease in his U.S. Open opener on Tuesday. He defeated Czech player Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and 38 minutes. The Italian dominated on serve, striking seven aces and never facing a break point. He won more than 82 percent of points on his first serve and was equally sharp at the net.

Jannik Sinner (2)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Another Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, also booked his place in the next round. The 10th seed came from a set down to defeat France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Both players fired 13 aces, but Musetti kept his errors in check, conceding just one double fault compared to his opponent’s 10.

Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo delivered the first big comeback of the tournament. The 19th seed recovered from two sets down to edge Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. Cerundolo even trailed by a break in the third set before turning the match around with steady baseline play.

Elsewhere, seeded players continued to progress without major upsets. No. 23 Alexander Bublik cruised past Marin Cilic, while No. 27 Denis Shapovalov eased through Marton Fucsovics in straight sets. Other winners included French wild card Valentin Royer, Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi, and Belgium’s David Goffin. Later in the evening, third seed Alexander Zverev was scheduled to meet Alejandro Tabilo, with Alex de Minaur set for an all-Australian clash against Christopher O’Connell.

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