Reflecting on the period before the Australian Open, Sinner shared his struggles with Italian broadcaster RAI. "I wasn't in a very happy moment because of the doping case," he said. "I didn't feel comfortable in the locker room or where I ate. Some players looked at me differently, and I didn't like it." He admitted that his usual carefree attitude changed as he felt a sense of unease among his peers, explaining, "It became different. I wasn't at ease." Sinner considered taking a break from tennis after the Australian Open, thinking that some time off would help him recover emotionally.
Though an independent panel cleared him of any wrongdoing, WADA appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a potential ban of up to two years. However, Sinner reached a settlement with WADA for a shorter sanction, and he is set to return to the courts at the Italian Open in Rome, starting May 6, after his ban expires on May 5. WADA confirmed that Sinner had not gained any competitive advantage from the banned substance, acknowledging the contamination was accidental.
The ban sparked mixed reactions in the tennis world. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, criticized the length of the sanction, saying she would have received a much harsher punishment, including the loss of titles. Tim Henman, former British number one, called the settlement "too convenient," while Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, expressed his disillusionment with the sport, saying he "did not believe in clean sport anymore."
Despite the criticism, Sinner defended his position, saying, "I don't want to respond to criticism. People are free to say what they want." He emphasized that what matters most to him is his own understanding of the situation. "It was difficult and I wouldn't wish anyone to go through that as an innocent person," Sinner concluded.
