Sinner Reflects on US Open Win and Lingering Impact of Doping Case
In a compelling victory at the US Open final, top-ranked Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner defeated hometown favorite Taylor Fritz to clinch his second Grand Slam title of the year. However, in a post-match interview, Sinner opened up about how a doping case from earlier in the season continued affecting him mentally.
The phenomenal 2024 season saw the 23-year-old claim trophies at both the Australian Open in January and the US Open last week. He became just the fourth man since 1990 to win two major singles titles in a single year. However, Sinner revealed that the two positive tests he returned for a banned substance in March, which was later ruled unintentional, was still on his mind.
“It was difficult for me to fully enjoy tournaments before this due to that situation. How I carried myself on court wasn't always the same as usual,” commented Sinner. While he was ultimately exonerated after an investigation found it was caused by contaminated massage cream, the ordeal clearly lingered with him for months.
In New York though, Sinner was at his ruthless best in defeating Fritz in straight sets. He displayed immense mental strength to put the distraction of his past doping case aside and lock in his focus entirely on the match at hand. With his latest major triumph, the Italian climbed to a career-high ranking of world No. 1, cementing his status as one of the faces of men's tennis going forward.
Sinner now owns an impressive resume of six titles, including two Slams, in 2024 alone. He becomes only the third player since the Open Era began in 1968 to win his opening two major crowns in the same year. As another historic season draws to a close, Sinner appears well on his way to even greater accomplishments if he maintains this level of excellence and overcomes any mental hurdles that come his path.
