By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, April 6, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
Lethal shotmaking rocketed Jannik Sinner’s rise to world No. 1.
Simple decision-making compelled Sinner to accept a three-month suspension from tennis.
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In a new interview with Sky Sports Italy, Sinner said his decision to accept the three-month ban and settle WADA’s appeal of his doping case was “the lesser evil.”
While Sinner calls his suspension “unfair” he also notes “it could have been worse.”
“In the end, you have to choose the lesser evil and I believe that is what I have done,” Sinner told Sky Sports Italy. “Even if sometimes it seems a bit unfair, all that I’m living, but then if I look at things from a different perspective it could have been worse.
“Even more unfairness. This is the way it is.”
Last March, Sinner twice tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol in “low levels” the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced in August days before the start of the US Open.
Two-time Australian Open champion Sinner was not suspended and permitted to play because an independent tribunal ruled he was at “no fault” for the steroid contamination in his system.
That decision prompted WADA to appeal the case—and seek a one to two year ban.
“This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Sinner said in a statement in February accepting the suspension. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love.
“On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction.”
In the Sky Sports Italy, Sinner said the decision to accept the ban was made relatively quickly—and though he had reservations he acted on the advice of his legal team.
“The decision to take the three-month suspension was rather quick,” Sinner said. “We accepted it quite quickly, even though I didn’t agree completely.
“There was a bit of back and forth with my lawyer and the people around me. After we took this decision, it took me a while to find myself again.”
US Open champion Sinner is serving his suspension from February 9th to 11:59 pm on May 4th. That means Sinner is eligible to return before devoted Italian fans on Rome’s red clay in May.
Despite the stormy controversy surrounding his case, Sinner says he’s calm and eager for his Rome return.
“I am still here. There is still a bit of time to digest all this, but I can’t wait to be back in Rome,” Sinner said. “It’s a special tournament for me, even though it will also very tough.
“I’ll be back in a moment in which there will be already a lot of attention on me, and in Rome it’s not easy. But let’s say I am living every day in a calm manner.”
In his absence, several of Sinner’s rivals have been asked their reaction to his three-month suspension.
Some are not pulling punches.
Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic said he personally finds the case “strange” and shared other players believe the world No. 1 was shown “favoritism” in that his suspension ends in May.
The timing of the suspension means the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion will not miss a major and can continue his pursuit of the calendar Grand Slam.
“Jannik will have a three-month suspension due to some mistakes and negligence of some members of his team, who are working on the tour,” Djokovic told the media in Doha earlier this season. “This is also something that I personally and many other players find strange.
“I have spoken to several players in the locker room, not only in the last few days but also in the months before.
“Most of them are not satisfied with how the whole process has gone and do not think it was fair. Many believe that there was favoritism.”
Asked what reaction he expects to receive from rivals, Sinner said time will tell and maintained his innocence.
“I can’t answer this question as I don’t know what could happen,” Sinner said. “I know how things went, I know I am innocent.
“I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to play tennis and be serene. That’s the end of the story. So, I am sure all will go well, even if at the beginning it will take a while to start over. These are questions I don’t know how to answer.”
Another key question: How will Sinner come back from this break?
Solidifying his status as hard-court king, Sinner shredded Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 In the Australian Open final successfully defending his AO championship with command in January.
It was Sinner’s career-best 21st consecutive victory—he has not lost since bowing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Beijing final last fall—and his 21st straight Grand Slam hard-court victory.
Can Sinner continue riding the winning wave in Rome and later Roland Garros?
Initially, the world No. 1 said he spent his days calendar gazing—counting down the days until his comeback.
Recently, Sinner has put his time to more practical purposes working on strengthening his game and his mind for his highly-anticipated return.
“I stopped doing what I always dreamed of doing. I am in the best position to play this sport,” Sinner said.
“At the beginning I counted the days, but now every day that goes by, as the time gets closer, I feel better physically and mentally.
“Even if there is still time, it is a good opportunity for me to improve in those areas in which I had difficulties, on a surface on which I struggle. So, let’s try to do something different. Hopefully it works—otherwise we will have more time to try again.”
