Sinner refuses to respond to Kyrgios: “I haven’t done anything wrong”

With permission from Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, among others, Jannik Sinner looks set to be the great protagonist of the 2025 Australian Open. For several reasons. To begin with, he is the world number one and the defending champion.

But he is also suspected of having tested positive for clostebol twice in March of last year and of which he was exonerated. Although the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) filed an appeal against the decision taken by the Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and is now awaiting the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to resolve the issue once and for all. It’s something that the 23-year-old Italian cannot ignore.

Doping case on Sinner’s mind

“I think about it, of course. I would be lying if I said I am able to forget all about it. No, I don’t. It’s something I’ve had with me for quite a while. But it is what it is. I’m here trying to prepare for the Grand Slam. We’ll see how it goes,” Sinner said Friday at the tournament’s media day. The two-time major winner insisted on his innocence.

“In my mind I know exactly what happened, and that’s how I block it out. I haven’t done anything wrong. That’s why I’m still here. That’s why I’m still playing. I don’t want to respond to what Nick (Kyrgios) said or what other players say. I think the most important part is having people around me that I can trust, people that know exactly what happened. That’s all,” he said in reference to the continuous criticism he receives both on social media and in public interventions by the Australian tennis player, and how he compartmentalizes them in his mind.

Jannik said he always pays close attention to everything he takes and that this has not changed or has increased since his doping case, which was allegedly involuntary. “Before, I was very, very careful with every medicine I take, even with what I eat. When the bottle is open, I throw it away, I get a new one. I was always very, very careful with these things. I have not changed in that regard.”

Preseason without tournaments and with small changes

Aside from the controversy surrounding him, Sinner spoke about his preseason and explained why he has not played any tournaments before the Australian Open. “Last season was very, very long. I also played the Davis Cup. Afterwards, you need some time to rest, to restart everything. You have to do a certain amount of preseason to prepare your body in the best possible way, making some technical and tactical changes to your game.”

According to the Italian, these changes are not very big. “They are small changes. Small details at certain points, which could make the difference, so... I try to vary the game a little more, trying to move forward a little. The service movement is slightly different. Even from the outside it is difficult to see, but as a player you notice it.”

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