Jannik Sinner is going through a difficult period in his tennis career, but Novak Djokovic's former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, hopes that the Italian will be allowed to play.
The 23-year-old Italian player might have been the most dominant player on the ATP Tour in 2024, but all of that might be overshadowed if the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) rules against him in an ongoing case.
Sinner reached at least the quarter-final stage in every single tournament that he played this year. He also won two majors and leads the ATP Rankings with a massive gap to second Alexander Zverev, but none of that will be important if he is suspended from competing.
The reason why he could be suspended is a positive test for the banned substance clostebol. He tested positive during the Indian Wells Open, and even though the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially found no negligence on his side, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) didn't agree with that ruling.
That's why WADA appealed the case on the CAS, and with the decision yet to be known, everyone, including Sinner, can only guess whether the two-time Grand Slam champion will be allowed to continue competing.
The opinion of tennis players, pundits, coaches, and fans also differs. Some stand behind the Italian player, while others think that he should be suspended from the competition.
Some don't want him suspended but only think that his case wasn't handled properly. There is a whole spectrum of opinions on Sinner's doping case, and Ivanisevic also has one.
The Croatian coach stopped working with Novak Djokovic in 2024, and after a few years without being professionally involved on the Tour, he will be seen again in 2025, as he started working with Elena Rybakina.
Shortly after his appointment, the 53-year-old sat down with Serbian publication SportKlub to talk about various topics, including his new pupil, his former player Djokovic, the state of the ATP Tour, and also Sinner's ongoing doping case.
Ivanisevic knows how it feels to deal with a similar case, as he previously worked with Marin Cilic, who also received a ban after a positive test for a banned substance.
Also because of that experience, Ivanisevic wishes Sinner to get away without a suspension, as he thinks that some people involved in this kind of doping cases just want to 'destroy someone's life.'
That's why the Croatian coach hopes that the reigning World No. 1 player will be allowed to continue competing, something only CAS can now decide about after the appeal from WADA.
"I sincerely hope they leave him alone and that they let him play, tennis needs Sinner. With (Marin) Cilic, I’ve had to deal with WADA and such people, a lot of people that I didn’t like, that just want to destroy someone’s life. I hope that the outcome is positive for Sinner."
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