Jannik Sinner had a terrific 2024 season. Two Grand Slams and a title-laden year ensured that he finished the year at the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career. However, despite all the efforts, he failed to make it to the year-end ATP awards. This has received major backlash from the tennis world. Opening up on it, Andrea Petkovic, a former world number 10, has opened up on why Sinner might have been snubbed.

Sinner, who won the US Open earlier this season, tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March. Although an independent tribunal accepted his explanation that the banned substance entered his body through a massage from his physiotherapist, the way the case was handled raised questions. Petkovic believes this doping controversy directly influenced the ATP’s decision to exclude Sinner from the award list.

“It’s because if he’s suspended, they (ATP) don’t want him on the list,” Petkovic stated, explaining the likely reasoning behind the exclusion. She added, “I think they’re protecting themselves. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but let’s say they’re protecting themselves from a situation where he gets the Sportsmanship Award and Darren gets the Coach of the Year Award and he gets suspended for a few months,” Petkovic said.

However, the case has taken another turn, with WADA appealing against the tribunal’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The tribunal had ruled Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” since the steroid entered his body through a message by his physiotherapist. WADA has challenged this conclusion and is seeking a ban of up to two years. While the verdict of CAS will come later, Petkovic reckons Sinner has been snubbed from the ATP awards for this reason alone.

While that might or might not be true, what can’t be taken away from Sinner is the fact that he had a stellar season. And he finished his season with another title at the ATP Finals. Interestingly, at the ATP Finals, Sinner bagged a unique award as well.

Jannik Sinner gets the best hair award at the ATP Finals

Jannik Sinner and a catchy hairstyle, are two things that don’t relate to each other. But Sinner managed to bag this unusual award at the ATP Finals and this wasn’t acceptable to Alexander Zverev. In a video released by the ATP Tour, Sinner was handed the award for the best hair. Initially, he himself was stunned by the award, as he asked, “I have the best hair?”. 

Responding to this, the interviewer replied that it is what the fans think. And that’s when Alexander Zverev interrupted. “He has the best hair. I grew my hair for three years for this award and you’re giving it to him?” said the German superstar. While this wasn’t an official award, this hilarious behind-the-scenes conversation caught everyone’s attention.

Jannik Sinner can take a lot of positives out of the 2024 season. It was the most successful season of his career. While the doping saga still remains in question, it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the future and what the eventual verdict is from the CAS. Sinner, meanwhile, will be looking for some time off before he makes his way to Melbourne to defend his Australian Open title.