World No.1 Jannik Sinner has handled pressure brilliantly, even as doping case continues to haunt him

Jannik Sinner’s had a remarkable year on the tennis circuit. The first Italian male to rise to the No1. position in singles rankings on the ATP computer (June 10), he won the Australian Open, and then, clinching the US Open. All this was not minus pressure and suspense, a word used so often in sports. The kind of uncertainty which Sinner still faces is phenomenal, though he had done well to seal the season-ending No.1 ranking even as the ATP Tour finals are on in Turin.

To some, like Nick Kyrgios, Sinner is not clean. He is a dope cheat, someone who should be banned from playing tennis. Many more players have also spoken, though none in favour, after news trickled out, the Italian had tested positive for Clostebol. How this is happened is well-known, as the physio team of Jannik Sinner has used an ointment (pain reliever) containing Clostebol, which is banned by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). Sinner had tested positive twice for Clostebol during the Indian Wells tournament, after which the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Association) had probed the matter and let Sinner off. When news become public, a few weeks before the US Open in New York, that Sinner was ‘not clean,’ he was subjected to intense scrutiny and hatred.

Again, Kyrgios, a maverick of sorts, kept baiting Sinner. A few more joined and even the crowd has turned against the Italian in New York. It was a miracle how he played under such intense pressure and scrutiny. At the back of his mind, there was this nagging fear of hatred and feeling uneasy. More hell broke loose for Sinner, when the WADA decided to drag Sinner to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports), almost two months ago. It is well-known, CAS is the highest authority when it comes to such cases/disputes. The WADA feels the ITIA let Sinner of the hook and wants to press for harsh punishment. Strangely, the CAS is tight-lipped. When it will take up the matter or of it is already being heard, no information is available in public domain. It has made life difficult for Sinner, who has to compete with this constant fear as to what can go wrong, next.

Ask any player how it feels to be a competitor when the rest of the world looks at you with suspicion. If one goes through the media statements and interviews of Jannik Sinner, he has repeatedly spoken on how he has experienced one thing in life: Who his real friends are who has stood by him. Without being judgmental on Sinner, the cream used to massage his foot containing Clostebol, was not a deliberate attempt at doping or cheating. He has fired his physios as they bought the OTC (over the counter) cream without checking what it contains. The onus is eventually on the athlete for any kind of drug abuse, even if inadvertent.

The way Sinner has handled the emotions, anxiety and apprehensions in the last four months shows him as someone who can deal with intense pressure. One thing is to compete and win matches on the court and to deal with situations beyond control quite another. At the US Open, to win match by match was interesting. Perhaps, anyone else in Sinner’s place would have collapsed under pressure. After winning his second Major of the season, Sinner focussed on staying positive. He still does not know what the hell is going on. As the champion made it to the Turin finale, he put up a brave face. He has won two matches till Tuesday night. Even before that, he had been handed the trophy, finishing as No1. in 2024.

Contrast this with what Carlos Alcaraz has said, he is feeling burnt out, thanks to a hectic schedule. Tennis players are under pressure to compete almost non-stop or fear losing ranking points. It’s a Catch 22 situation and only someone like Novak Djokovic has been bold enough to say he will take a break and come back strongly in 2025. What about Sinner? He has won almost everything he could in 2024, though he missed the Paris 2024 Olympics. The poor guy must be feeling like a convict, not knowing if he will be pulled up. Anti-doping cases takes up by WADA and CAS can drag on. Some reports say, nothing will come out, perhaps till 2025. To make a player suffer guilt, handle the emotions like this, it’s very hard. Whatever the CAS does, if performance be measured today for competing under pressure, Sinner deserves a separate award for it. No.1, but with a question mark hanging!