Decaffeinated” could be a word to define the trajectory of Jannik Sinner this year. While he lifted his first ‘Major’ in Australia in January, his reputation was madly tarnished by a double positive for the substance clostebol, a shadow that lingered even after his recent US Open win.
Apart from his team, now part of his past, both glory and murmurs have accompanied Sinner throughout this year’s journey in equal measure. His career had been like an emotionless roller coaster, as it was merely a continuous, rapid rise to the top of the ATP rankings, where he has reigned since 10 June of this year.
However, life struck a deal with destiny to throw a spanner in the works of Sinner’s otherwise flawless path. That’s when, unexpectedly, a major fall occurred, the revelation of a doping case came to light in mid-August.
His story is a reminder that reputation can be fragile, but a true legacy is built through actions, not words. Along this tough road, he’s found few allies, mainly his compatriots, with Berrettini leading the pack, the Nadal camp, who stated that they “didn’t believe there was any intent,” and more recently, Casper Ruud, ATP’s number nine, who also defended the young prodigy from San Candido.
However, on this journey, Sinner also encountered many detractors. Denis Shapovalov, Roberto Carballés Baena, Nick Kyrgios, Lucas Pouille, and other players complained that the tribunal had been biased, protecting the number one due to his fame and his high ranking. Others, like Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic, or Carlos Alcaraz, who could have easily added fuel to the fire, decided to step back, avoiding further escalation.
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