Jannik Sinner’s Unprofessionalism Will Cost His Tennis Career

Jannik Sinner has been the best tennis player in recent years. The World No.1 has recently won the US Open it was his second grand slam in a year. He previously won the Australian Open in 2024. The Italian has won 16 singles titles on the ATP Tour. He was the runner-up at the 2023 ATP Finals and led Italy to the 2023 Davis Cup crown. 

At the 2021 Citi Open, he became the youngest ATP 500 champion. Also, the first player born in the 2000s to break into the top ten rankings. Sinner won his maiden Masters 1000 title at the 2023 Canadian Open. He concluded the season at the ATP Finals and helped Italy win the Davis Cup. However, his short glorious career has been struck with devastating news. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

They have challenged an independent tribunal’s decision in August to clear tennis World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing after failing drug tests. However, Sinner has been shocked by the acquisition that has been filed against him. Wada stated on Saturday that the tribunal’s conclusion of “no fault or negligence” on the Italian’s part was improper under the applicable rules. It would seek “a period of ineligibility of between one and two years” for the Australian and US Open champions. 

Jannik Sinner’s Grand Slams will be taken away

Will Sinner’s career end if he gets banned? It will depend on how many years he will be away from the game if found guilty. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has accepted Sinner’s explanation of how the anabolic agent clostebol entered his system via massages and sports therapy was approved. As per ITIA, Sinner said his physio, Giacomo Naldi, used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin to treat a small finger wound. Then he did massages between March 5 and 13 without using gloves.

This might affect his games as well and the Grand Slams might also be taken away. Currently, the Italian is participating in the China Open 2024. He defeated Roman Safiullin on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals. It will be very interesting to see whether the No.1 will be allowed to play the rest of the matches in the competition unless the final decision of the verdict comes.