'I’m sure he’ll turn it into something positive': Jannik Sinner's former coach reveals his one unique quality

Italy’s Jannik Sinner’s former coach Riccardo Piatti believes that the reigning world number one has the ability to turn a ‘very unpleasant’ situation involving him regarding the doping scandal into ‘something positive’. The 23-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner is going through a difficult phase in his career. He tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March last year, and since then, he has come under severe criticism from fellow members of the tennis community. He managed to escape any ban as The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared him innocent following a detailed hearing where his counsel claimed that the substance was available in the player’s sample because he came in close contact with his physio Naldi who used to spray for the treatment of a cut on his finger.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the ITIA’s verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded a two-year ban for the three-time Grand Slam winner. However, the issue finally came to a conclusion as WADA announced that they had reached an agreement with Sinner, which will result in the player remaining out of action for three months. His ban will end just a few days before the start of the Rome Masters in May later this year.

Sinner’s former coach Piatti believes that the reigning world number one has the ability to turn the situation around. He also recalled how Sinner dealt with the situation when the world was impacted by COVID-19 back in 2020.

“This whole situation has been very unpleasant for Sinner, but I’m sure he’ll turn it into something positive,” said Piatti. “I think Jannik has a very important card up his sleeve in the coming months to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. I’m sure that during these months of hiatus, Jannik hasn’t stopped. During the pandemic, for example, it was one of the most important moments of growth for him. He trained physically three times a week and played tennis every day.”