Jannik Sinner’s coach hits out at those claiming three-month ban could be an ‘advantage’
Simone Vagnozzi has branded suggestions that Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension from playing could be an advantage as a “joke.”
Sinner has not competed since January 26, when he defeated Alexander Zverev in Melbourne to defend his Australian Open title.
The world No 1 was unable to play between February 9 and May 4 after twice testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024.
The three-time Grand Slam winner missed events in Qatar, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.
The Italian is set to make his comeback at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, where he will face Mariano Navone or Federico Cina in his opening match.
Vagnozzi, who has coached Sinner since February 2022, discussed the impact of Sinner’s ban ahead of his return at the Italian Open.
“I was surprised to read some statements, even from insiders, about the possibility that the three-month disqualification could ultimately be an advantage for Jannik… let’s not joke,” Vagnozzi told the Italian media.
“If that were the case, why did no one ever think of stopping for all that time? We tried to manage the situation as best we could.
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“The first month away from the courts was very calm, then Jannik started playing again, but without being able to play any real practice matches until the last few days.
“It was important to have tried the centre [court] yesterday, but be careful, in the last five months he has only played two tournaments, he arrives at this tournament without any real matches behind him, we cannot expect miracles.”
Sinner initially avoided a ban over his failed doping tests when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in August that an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”
He explained that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his own finger.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the verdict in September as they initially sought to impose a ban of between one and two years on Sinner.
The appeal was set to be heard at CAS in April, but WADA revealed in February it had reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal team for him to serve a three-month suspension.
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