The sinner “don’t name” to show the message he did and did not receive during the ban
Rome (AP) — Jannik Sinner was just as surprised as those who sent nothing to him when the three-month doping ban began.
The top-ranked player returned to tennis at the Italian Open this week after a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which caused problems as it conveniently allowed Sinner not to miss any Grand Slams and then back to his home game.
“At the start of the pause, I received some surprising messages from some players, and there are others who hope to hear anything from it without sending anything,” Sinner said. “But I won’t have a name.”
The settlement was made in the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency last year to completely exempt criminals from accidental contamination by anabolic steroids that were banned in March 2024.
Many other pros felt that Sinner was being treated too lightly, and Sinner recently discussed that he was really not comfortable in the locker room and that the player’s lounge had a second straight title in January in January, noting that “the players were looking at me with a different view.”
Coach Simone Vagnozzi said he and Sinner’s other coach, Darren Cahill, also felt the glare.
“When this happens, I think it’s almost inevitable to look at you. But there are some good things to say,” Vagnozzi said.
In the last month of the ban, the Sinner practiced with Jack Draper, Lorenzo Sonego and Rune at the training base in Monaco.
Sinners can’t see friends competing
At the beginning of the suspension, the sinner was prohibited from participating in any approved sporting event.
“I want to support my friends on a bike or racing,” Sina said. “I can’t go there. It’s the hardest part for me.”
In March, professional cyclist Giulio Ciccone posted a photo on Instagram, saying it was working with Sinner and Ferrari Endurance drivers Alberto Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi.
Vagnozzi wants to help coach sinners
Cahill announced that he would retire at the end of the year, asking Vagnozzi if he would consider coaching himself.
“I can do it myself,” Vagnozzi said. “But with players at this level it’s important to have another point of view. Sometimes, be sure to separate you from the weeks you spend on the player. Otherwise, it’s 365 days/year of work, which is a little bit more.
“But I hope Darren continues to last for five years because we have such a good relationship. He is probably the best coach ever in terms of results and other factors.”
Vagnozzi mentioned how Sinner coached the fourth player in Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep. “But most importantly, he is a special person.”
Sinner will open Saturday with Mariano Navone No. 99, who beat the 18-year-old Italian wildcard Federico Cinà 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday. Sinner entered with a 21-time championship streak, but has not been in the official match since January.
Again, Foro Italico’s red clay is not the best surface for sinners. In 2022, only one of his 19 career championships appeared in Umag, Croatia.
“It’s definitely the surface he’s sure of himself,” Vagnozzi said. “But he had a good clay season last year, reaching the semifinals in Monte Carlo and the French Open and Madrid’s quarterfinals. … So I think he could do well here, too.”
The last Italian to win the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
