John McEnroe thinks ‘suspension is looming’ due to drug scandal after Jannik Sinner’s Australian Open victory
World No.1 Jannik Sinner became a three-time Grand Slam champion after a comprehensive win over World No.2 Alexander Zverev.
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John McEnroe, Jannik Sinner (Images via VOX, X)
Although World No.1 Jannik Sinner won his third Grand Slam title, the possibility of a lengthy suspension due to the doping scandal is looming over him. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled the hearing of Sinner’s case in April.
Sinner, on Sunday (January 26), defended his Australian Open title with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over World No.2 Alexander Zverev in the final. Tennis great John McEnroe, while lauding Sinner’s mental strength, said he thinks there’s a possibility of the World No.1 wasting his time on the sidelines if CAS’ verdict doesn’t come out in his favor.
Off the court, the issue with the drug thing. A suspension is looming potentially. I thought that would affect him at the US Open, but it didn’t and he played fantastic there. Then they said the case was over and done with and then it crops up again. So you are thinking that’s going to get into his head, but it doesn’t.
John McEnroe told Eurosport
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found clostebol in his sample twice, due to which he faced two provisional suspensions. But the ITIA believed in his explanation about how it entered his body and he faced no more punishment.
He was contaminated due to his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi, who was using an over-the-counter spray that had clostebol. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenged ITIA’s verdict and approached CAS to demand a ban on the three-time Grand Slam champion.
Jannik Sinner will give his second Australian Open trophy to his parents
Jannik Sinner‘s apartment in Monte-Carlos is not spacious, which is why he wants to give his Australian Open trophy to his parents, Johann Sinner and Siglinde Sinner, both of who live in Italy. His parents didn’t travel Down Under to witness his successful run, but his brother Marc Sinner saw him lift his second Australian Open on the trot.
My apartment in Monte Carlo is quite small, so I’ll leave this one safe at my parents’ house. I’m much more at peace if it stays there!
Jannik Sinner told Eurosport
Last year, the 23-year-old became the first man from Italy to win a Grand Slam singles title in 48 years when he lifted the Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. He then doubled his Major tally with a straight-set win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open final of the same year.
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Gouri Das
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