World number one Jannik Sinner said Friday he was not in a “comfortable” situation as his doping investigation went on, but insisted he was ready for his opening match at the Shanghai Masters.
Last week the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it would challenge a judgement by tennis officials to absolve the Italian of wrongdoing after he twice tested positive for a steroid in March.
The 23-year-old persevered through the controversy to reach the finals of the China Open in Beijing on Wednesday, where he lost to arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz.
“It’s not in a situation where I feel comfortable in it, that’s for sure, because I thought it was over… so it’s not easy,” said Sinner when asked at a press conference if the pressure of the appeal was hurting him.
In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Sinner’s account that the substance entered his system accidently when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then administered massage and sports treatment to the player.
But WADA announced last Saturday it had appealed and was seeking a ban of up to two years.
“I had three hearings, which went my way, which was good, but now let’s see. But I’m pretty certain that it comes out really positively,” Sinner said Friday.
He now needs to focus his attention on the Shanghai Masters, where he could end up facing Alcaraz again.
“We are quite similar as human beings off the court,” remarked Sinner.
“Obviously on the court we try to meet, we try to put on a big fight… he pushes me to do better, which is something good.”
Sinner will face Japan’s 93rd-ranked Taro Daniel in his first encounter of the competition this weekend.
“I had my first practice session just now, I just completed, so I feel fine. I feel recovered,” Sinner remarked.
