“He’s playing unreal..,” ATP youngster expresses his wish to face Jannik Sinner who is banned for 3 months

Jannik Sinner cannot compete in ATP events because of the three-month suspension WADA handed to him due to his doping case.

“He’s playing unreal..,” ATP youngster expresses his wish to face Jannik Sinner who is banned for 3 months

Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez won his first match on the ATP Tour on Tuesday (February 25). Mendez was up against Aleksandar Vukic in the first round of the Mexico Open and beat him not before three hours.

7-5, 6-4, 7-6(4) read the scoreline as Mendez clinched his career-best win by ranking in front of the home crowd inside the Grandstand of Abierto Mexicano Telcel. He has a big test ahead of him as he is pitted against second seed Casper Ruud in the second round, scheduled on Wednesday (February 26).

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Mendez idolizes Rafael Nadal, for he too is a lefty like the King of Clay. The 19-year-old, currently outside of the top 300, wants to be like the 22-time Grand Slam champion. He met Nadal in Acapulco two years ago when the Spaniard was playing his career’s last Mexico Open.

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Although Mendez won’t have a chance to lock horns with his idol because Nadal hung up his racket at the 2024 Davis Cup, he sure would get an opportunity to fulfill another dream. He wants to face World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

My dream match is against Sinner because now he’s No. 1 and playing unreal. I want to see how he destroys me (laughter).

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez told Tennis Channel

Sinner is serving his three-month suspension for negligence of his team members due to his two failed drug tests. He is expected to be back in action at the Italian Open.

Barbara Schett reacts to Jannik Sinner’s doping ban

Former WTA pro Barbara Schett made her feelings known about Jannik Sinner’s three-month doping suspension. She too, like many in the tennis community, thinks that World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) settlement with Sinner was strange and called for some changes to the rules to avoid confusion in the future.

Jannik Sinner (7)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

The former World No.7 said that she believes in Sinner’s story, that the banned substance, clostebol, contaminated him due to his former physio. Schett, however, called the timing of the ban ideal because the three-time Grand Slam champion won’t be forced to pull out of this year’s Major events due to the doping scandal anymore.

WADA said that he did not intentionally dope and he was banned anyway. It’s a bit confusing, but the three months are obviously good for him. The timing is ideal because he can play again in Rome.

Barbara Schett told Kicker

Sinner will be free to participate in ATP events after May 4. He recently made his first public appearance when he attended the Gucci fashion show in Milan and sat in the first row with Roger Federer fan and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.