Former ATP pro blasts Jannik Sinner’s ‘logicless’ 3-month ban as he explains difficulties World No.1 will face after comeback

Jannik Sinner's three-month ban will be lifted on May 4, a few days before the season's third clay-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Former ATP pro blasts Jannik Sinner’s ‘logicless’ 3-month ban as he explains difficulties World No.1 will face after comeback

Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

Jannik Sinner shouldn’t have faced even a single-day suspension, believes his compatriot Omar Camporese. The former player found the entire verdict given to Sinner by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) logicless since the anti-doping agency too was convinced that Sinner didn’t willfully use clostebol to enhance his performance.

Sinner tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid twice in March last year and was provisionally suspended for it. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a no-fault or negligence verdict since clostebol entered Sinner’s body due to his former physio Giacomo Naldi during a physiotherapy session.

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Amidst controversy due to his not receiving a harsh punishment, WADA intervened and demanded that Sinner should be banned for one to two years. Before the scheduled hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the WADA reached a case resolution with Sinner and imposed on him only a three-month ban, exacerbating the controversy.

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Due to the ban, Sinner will miss several ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. He didn’t play in the recently concluded Indian Wells Masters, nor in the ongoing Miami Open. The World No.1 will also miss a couple of clay-court events of the same category: the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. Along with losing points, Camporese explained what other problems Sinner would deal with when makes his comeback.

We are talking about a great champion, but having such a long gap between tournaments is never good; you end up losing the rhythm and the emotional habit, the positive stress. It also seems absurd to me that they forbid him to train until mid-April, something that reinforces the lack of logic in this suspension.

Omar Camporese told QN/Nazione Sport (H/T: Ubitennis)

Jannik Sinner may not play his best tennis after comeback

Jannik Sinner is prohibited from ATP-sanctioned tournaments till May 4. He will be able to play the last clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome and it’s also confirmed that he will be playing Hamburg Open before the Roland Garros. Omar Camporese thinks if Sinner plays in Rome, “the entire crowd will be behind him.”

Jannik Sinner (9)
Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

But given the circumstances, we shouldn’t expect him to be able to immediately perform at his best. It’s more likely that the tournament in Rome will now be considered by him as the best one to find himself, aiming with conviction at Roland Garros, which he hasn’t won yet.

Omar Camporese told QN/Nazione Sport

The Italian Open starts on May 7 and will be concluded on May 18. Sinner had skipped the tournament last year due to an injury.

The 23-year-old has not yet claimed the 1000 ranking points in his home event. He made his debut in the tournament in 2019 and produced his best when he progressed to the quarterfinals in 2022.

Omar Camporese feels WADA treated Jannik Sinner badly

Right after the ITIA announced that Jannik Sinner faced no lengthy ban, it divided the tennis world as critics thought he was given preferential treatment due to him being a top player. WADA too was accused of the same, but Omar Camporese claimed pressure forced them to settle the case with Sinner.

Jannik Sinner (8)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

I don’t think so, on the contrary, he was treated badly. WADA was probably under pressure for previous events, such as that of the Chinese swimmers, and was trying to get even with him.

Omar Camporese added

Sinner is 10,330 in the ATP Live Rankings. He lost 1000 points as he won’t be able to defend the Miami Open. Last year, he won the tournament by beating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets in the final. His position won’t be in danger even if World No.2 Alexander Zverev wins the tournament.