‘I’m ready to play again’: Jannik Sinner reveals he nearly quit tennis amid doping turmoil | Tennis News
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has revealed that he considered walking away from tennis earlier this year during a deeply turbulent period sparked by his three-month doping ban. In an emotional interview with Italian state broadcaster RAI, Sinner opened up about the toll the ordeal took on him — both mentally and emotionally.
“Yes,” Sinner said, when asked if he had thought about quitting the sport. “I remember before the Australian Open this year, it wasn’t a very happy time. I didn’t really feel comfortable in the locker room, where we were eating. Players were looking at me differently. I said to myself, ‘Maybe I need to take some time off after Australia.’ I didn’t want [the ban], though.”
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Despite the unease, Sinner went on to win his second straight Australian Open title in January. But by February, a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was finalised, confirming a retroactive three-month ban stemming from a positive test in March 2024 — a result WADA attributed to accidental contamination by an anabolic steroid.
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“I had a tough time accepting these three months. Because I knew that I didn’t do anything wrong,” Sinner said. “But then we discussed it with my lawyer and about what could have happened in the worst-case scenario and so we decided to accept it.”
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The timing of the settlement — allowing Sinner to return just in time for the Italian Open next week — stirred criticism from some fellow players who claimed he received preferential treatment. Sinner, however, dismissed such claims.
“I don’t even want to respond. Everyone is free to say what they want. For me, the important thing is that I know what happened,” he said. “I don’t wish it upon anyone who is innocent to go through what I went through.”
Now eager to return, Sinner added, “I miss the competition. I’m very happy that this period is done and I’m ready to play again.”
