Italy’s star athlete Jannik Sinner‘s 2025 AO could have been the ultimate highlight, but it didn’t happen. A dark cloud of anxiety loomed over his victory in Melbourne. While the fraternity celebrated his success, a former pro found himself grappling with anxiety about his ongoing doping trial. Despite Sinner’s brilliance, a quieter and more unsettling conversation lingered in the background: can his recent milestone truly silence the critics, or is something even more tense on the horizon?

Sinner’s victory at the 2025 Australian Open impressed the fraternity. However, his leg cramps at the semifinal run made his followers anxious, including former pro Jim Courier. The 54-year-old believed Sinner’s physicality might not be sufficient for his physically demanding battle against Zverev. However, Sinner proved him wrong and overpowered the German opponent in three straight sets. Although the ATP number one’s performance received applause, one cloud of concern remained among his followers: the final verdict for his doping case.

Former pro, Mark Petchey, reflected on this situation and dropped a heartfelt wish on X. “Hopefully next month is the last time we see @janniksin in court and then for the rest of the year, on court. Tennis played the way he is playing it right now, is a joy to watch,” he wrote. His statement highlighted the cry of many Sinner supporters who want their favorite player on the court and not in suspension. However, Sinner’s verdict is scheduled for the 16th and 17th of April, which means his followers have to wait. But what made his case so complicated? 

Taking a flashback: Sinner tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance available in over-the-counter medicines in Italy. That substance allegedly entered his body when Sinner’s former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, massaged his leg. Following the substance entering his body, Sinner failed his doping tests twice, receiving a suspension of a week from ITIA. His 2024 Indian Wells prize money was also stripped off. However, Sinner proved his innocence and returned to the tour. Despite his initial punishment, WADA again appealed to CAS for a reviewed judgment, leaving Sinner’s fate uncertain. In this situation, his AO win proved his potential as the number-one player worldwide.

Interestingly, Sinner also revealed a confident feeling about his victory. The Italian was asked about the CAS verdict and if he had any thoughts about missing the clay-court Grand Slam following any negative verdict. In his response, Sinner amused everyone with a strong statement. Standing by his hard work, he confessed he couldn’t play this well if he knew he was guilty. So, what was his words?

Jannik Sinner reveals he played without thinking about the “problem”

In an interview with Sky Sports, Sinner remained confident after winning his career’s third Grand Slam title. When asked about doping, he claimed his victory was rooted in transparency. “If I know if I would be guilty, I would not play like this,” said Sinner. Adding to his previous opinion, this ATP number one believed the verdict would come out positively as it did in ITIA’s case. Despite Sinner’s confidence, his followers remain anxious, thinking about the impact suspension would have on his career. However, the ATP number one chose to shift his focus.

“At the moment I’m not thinking about this. Of course, you have your moments of certain days where you feel like I wish I would not have this problem,” Sinner said. His words echoed his wish to live in the moment and enjoy the fruit of his hard work in Melbourne. While the clouds of tension remained, Sinner’s perspective showed how he won two Grand Slams without letting the negative criticism impact his focus.

Jannik Sinner’s recent performance impressed the fraternity with a hope to see him perform like this often. However, his doping trial remained a concern for people thinking what if he received a long suspension? Amidst such thoughts, people applauded Sinner’s resilience which proves how champions were not made by victories, but by the struggles they endured in their careers.