US Open: Sinner’s triumph despite doping discussions

In the second week of the US Open tournament, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have already been eliminated, and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have also had their say. Federer and Nadal? What do they want? One of them has been retired for two years now and is a tennis pensioner, the other is once again ill and in early retirement.

Federer and Nadal have won several times in New York, and their opinion is of interest and counts simply because they are Federer and Nadal. But the topic of conversation for the two last week was neither their successes nor their rivalry, which was also a friendship full of mutual respect. They spoke about Jannik Sinner, their successors at the top of the world rankings.

Sinner is just 23 years old and already a major winner. In January he won the Australian Open, fulfilling the high expectations that had accompanied him since his early youth. He has led the world rankings since the beginning of June. And now he is in the final of the US Open, where he will face the American Taylor Fritz on Sunday evening (from 8 p.m. CEST).

In Friday’s semifinal, Sinner beat the physically battered Brit Jack Draper 6:4, 7:6, 6:2 in three hours. In the on-court interview afterwards, he did not forget to thank his opponent, who was also a close acquaintance and a friend off the court. Draper obviously suffered in his first Grand Slam semifinal. He had to vomit on the court twice. These were the worst possible conditions to seriously challenge Sünder.

The shadows of doubt

The South Tyrolean is the shooting star of the current season. But Federer and Nadal did not praise his talent or the consistency he has shown this season. They expressed their trust in him. For almost three weeks, the Italian has been suspected of doping. In the spring in Indian Wells and a few weeks later during training, he tested positive twice for the steroid clostebol. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (Itia), which investigates and punishes such cases, banned Sünder as a precautionary measure.

But Sinner has not missed a single match because of the potential doping case. An independent court lifted these bans and finally acquitted him a good two weeks ago. The Italian could not be accused of any fault or negligence. Sinner and his legal representative were able to credibly explain to the court that the banned substance entered his body via the hands of his physiotherapist.

The explanation was met with limited understanding by his competitors. Long-time world number one Novak Djokovic said at his media conference before the start of the US Open that he understood that certain players would now ask themselves whether different standards were being applied.

On September 6, the day of Sinner’s semi-final against Draper, the deadline for an appeal against Sinner’s acquittal expired. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had promised to appeal against the acquittal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. But it is unclear whether it has actually done so. WADA may wait until the end of the US Open before making a statement. If it has not lodged an appeal, the case is at least formally closed for Sünder.

And this is where Federer and Nadal come in. The South Tyrolean won the first 16 matches of the year and in 2024 he had already won five titles by the time of the final in New York. Federer said this week on the “Today” show on the American channel NBC: “I think we pretty much trust that Jannik hasn’t done anything illegal.” At the same time, however, he also added a possible discrepancy that would have to be clarified. He referred to the fact that sinners did not have to sit out. “I understand the frustration and the question: Has he been treated the same as others?”

In contrast to the Basel native, Nadal had clearly sided with the Italian. The Mallorcan said in a Spanish talk show that he trusted the committees and saw no favoritism towards Sinner. “I believe that and I am convinced of it.” But I also respect the opinions of others.”

Sinner himself appeared surprisingly composed and well-advised in New York. He faced the enormous pressure and the suspicions that weighed on him with remarkable clarity. After his victory in the second round against the American Alex Michelsen, he said at the media conference, when asked about the criticism that had been repeatedly voiced by the Australian Nick Kyrgios in particular: “Everyone is free to say what they think.” I follow it quite calmly and I don’t hold grudges. I forget quickly.”

Sinner was obviously more affected by the hatred he received on social media platforms than by his competitors’ doubts. He was bombarded with accusations and insults. This was nothing new for him, there were always strong reactions there. Positive and less positive. “If I keep losing, then they come. I counter them by staying as far away from these platforms as possible.”

These were mature and level-headed words from a young star who had also become acquainted with the dark side of the business for the first time in recent weeks. No one can say with any certainty whether Sinner is guilty or innocent. As always in jurisprudence, the principle applies here too: in case of doubt, for the accused.

The difference between real and fake friends

Sünder and those around him are calm enough to know that an affair like the one surrounding the doping suspicion cannot simply be ignored. In New York, the Italian said: “The experiences of the last few weeks help me to distinguish who are my friends and who are not.” But that is probably part of the maturation process. I wouldn’t wish anyone to have to grow and gain experience in this way. It is not a pleasant way. But in moments like these, you realise: There is also a life outside the tennis court that is more important than everything we do as athletes.”

Sinner is now one win away from winning his second major in his career and this year. He showed some weaknesses in the first rounds of the tournament. It seems as if the doping scandal took its toll on him mentally, despite all his efforts to remain calm. But he managed to improve from match to match.

Jannik Sinner will probably not be able to escape the shadow of the doping allegations for a long time, or even ever. But growing through adversity and not breaking down is what distinguishes real champions from supposed champions. If Sinner triumphs in New York on Sunday evening, no one will seriously doubt that he belongs to the first category.

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