World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has once again spoken about the challenges he faced during his doping suspension and shared his outlook on his upcoming return to the court.
“The body needs to readjust. When you get out of the habit of playing, you get calluses on your hands again. But it`s fine,” Sinner stated. “I`m really happy to be coming back, and I`m curious to see what level I`m at right now.”
“At first, I didn`t want to agree [with WADA],” he admitted. “It was hard for me to accept the terms because I know what truly happened. But sometimes you have to choose the best out of a bad situation.”
“Maybe some people don`t realize, but I couldn`t even attend a regular football match. I wanted to cheer for my friends in cycling or motorsport, but I couldn`t. That was the hardest part,” Sinner revealed. “Nevertheless, I tried to use the time constructively to mentally prepare for my return to tennis. It`s all good. I`m very glad I got to spend that time with my family.”
“Last year was incredibly tough for me because of all the pressure. For months, I could barely talk to anyone about what happened. At the start of the Australian Open, I was in a difficult position. It was hard for me, so a short break was beneficial,” he continued. “Three months… it is what it is. A little break was helpful. I felt like I hadn`t played for a long time.”
“It`s currently unclear what form I`m in; it will be easier to evaluate over time,” Sinner said. “After the first match, I`ll know my level.”
“At the beginning of the ban, I didn`t really follow tennis much; I didn`t watch Indian Wells or Miami. I only knew the results,” he concluded at the press conference.
