(New York) Jannik Sinner fired a personal trainer and a physical therapist after he tested positive for steroids twice in March and said at a news conference Friday that he knew he was innocent but feared the outcome of the investigation until he learned he would not be suspended.
“These moments have been very difficult for my team and me. It remains difficult,” said Sinner, who is preparing for the U.S. Open, where he is the favorite.
The tournament gets underway on Monday at Flushing Meadows. Sinner has a date with American Mackie McDonald, 140e world champion in the first round on Tuesday. McDonald earned a spot in the main draw following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal earlier this month.
“It’s not ideal,” Sinner said with a wry laugh when asked about the timing of the outcome of his doping case this week.
He added that the outcome of the case was “a relief.”
Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian who reached the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in June, is seen as one of the leaders of the new generation of men’s tennis that will succeed the legendary trio of Roger Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Sinner won his first major title in January, winning the Australian Open.
He is 48-5 and has won five titles in 2024. He comes to New York after winning the Cincinnati tournament on Monday.
The following day, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March – one during the Indian Wells tournament and another eight days later. However, the investigation concluded that Clostebol had entered his system unintentionally, during a massage given by his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.
In his defense, Sinner claimed that his coach Umberto Ferrara bought a spray containing Clostebol in Italy and then gave it to Naldi, who used it to treat a cut on his finger. Naldi then gave Sinner a massage.
Both men will no longer work with Sinner.