Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is considering retiring from the sport

 

Siner: I thought about retiring due to "doping"

Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner revealed that he considered retiring from the sport due to the turmoil surrounding his temporary doping ban.

When asked in an interview with Rai TV channel whether he had ever had a moment when he wanted to surrender, Sinner hesitated before responding, saying: Yes. I remember I wasn't in a good mood before the Australian Open this year.

Going into January in Melbourne, a Grand Slam tournament he won, it was unclear whether Sinner would face a long ban for his doping case from 2024, when he blamed a massage therapist who gave him banned cream.

Eventually, a deal was struck whereby Sinner would receive a short three-month ban and return to next week's Italian Open.

He said he was concerned at the start of the year about what 2025 might bring.

He added: I arrived in Australia and did not feel comfortable, whether in the locker room or while eating. The players looked at me differently. This was not great.

He continued: It is difficult to live with this method of tennis. I was always someone who had fun with everyone, going into the locker room, talking to this or that player. But it was different, and I didn't feel well."

The three-time Grand Slam champion believes he did not receive any special treatment due to the short suspension that was imposed following the hearings.

Siner added: There were no different procedures. However, my case was criticized that I was treated differently. But I attended hearings. Many. Maybe they tested me more after that.

He concluded: I struggled a lot to accept those three months. Inside I was saying: I did nothing wrong. I wouldn't wish anyone to go through an experience like this and be innocent.