Jannik Sinner might be enjoying some of his best weeks on the tennis courts, but that doesn't mean his life is perfect.
The 23-year-old player's mental strength has been tested a lot in recent months. He tested positive for a banned substance, clostebol, at the 2024 Indian Wells Open in March, and since then, he has been involved in a process that no one knew about.
In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing when the case was made public, and it seemed that the terrible months for the World No. 1 player were over.
However, that didn't last long, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the case in September. Since then, the Italian player had to go through the rollercoaster of emotions once again.
Still, he won the 2024 Shanghai Masters on Sunday, beating Novak Djokovic in the final. Sinner seemingly didn't celebrate his win much, and he admitted that because of the appeal, he lost his smile.
Speaking after the tournament, the two-time Grand Slam champion admitted that while tennis fans might see him succeed on the tennis courts, the reality away from the courts is much different, something they might not realize.
"People, they think that by winning or having success that you don't have any problems, but it's not true, because I'm, the situation where I'm in, obviously, it's not comfortable, and I wish I would not be in this position where I am right now off the court, and playing freely more on the court, and trying even to enjoy it a little bit more."
Obviously, Sinner is not happy to be in this situation, but every single day, he tries to stay focused and give his tennis career his all, even though it might be stopped already in a few weeks.
"But, you have to accept it. I feel like that I'm strong when I go on the court, trying to don't think about it, and trying to stay focused about everything I do, and I give a hundred percent in every single match or practice, or when I wake up I try to be focused on every single thing I do."
At the same time, even though it has been a highly uncomfortable situation, it taught the young player a lot. He admitted that it taught him that what happens in his tennis career doesn't change him as a person.
"But then, of course, I have moments where I think about it, which is not comfortable, and not the best part. So, you take the success in a different way, and I think that's what I learned is that the success will never change me as a person, or as a player also because next tournament I can go far again, or I could lose the first round, but it's not going to change me as a person, as a human."
The same applies to people who surround him. Sinner is very happy to have people around him who he can trust, especially in this very challenging situation.
"So, I'm very glad to all the people that I have around, and they know me very, very good, and know how I am, and I know who the people that I can trust to, and that for me is the most important. Whatever I can achieve on the court, it's just an extra, it's that what I work for, but that's it."
Up next, Sinner will compete at the 2024 Six Kings Slam, and in the first round of the tournament, he was drawn against Daniil Medvedev.
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