World No. 1 Jannik Sinner recently spoke again about the difficulties he faced during the doping-related ban and shared his expectations for his return to competition.
“The body has to adapt again. When you`re out of playing, you get calluses on your hands again. But it`s okay. I`m very happy to be back, and I`m curious about what level I`m at right now.”
“At first, I didn`t want to agree [with WADA]. It wasn`t easy for me to accept the terms because I know what really happened. But sometimes you have to choose the best of the worst.”
“Maybe some people don`t know, but I couldn`t even attend a regular football match. I wanted to cheer for friends in cycling or motorsport, but I couldn`t. That was the hardest part. Nevertheless, I tried to use the time constructively to mentally prepare for returning to tennis. Everything is good. I`m very happy that I was with my family during that time.”
“Last year was very difficult for me because of all the pressure. For months, I could hardly talk to anyone about what happened. At the start of the Australian Open, I was in a difficult position. It was tough for me, so a small break was beneficial. Three months… it is what it is. A small break was helpful. I felt like I hadn`t played for a long time.”
“It`s not yet clear what shape I`m in; it will be easier to assess over time. After the first match, I`ll know my level.”
“At the beginning of the ban, I didn`t follow tennis much; I didn`t watch Indian Wells or Miami. I only knew the results,” Sinner said at the press conference.
Marcus Prine