
Jannik Sinner shocked by his level of tennis since drug ban after Wimbledon win
Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the Wimbledon final on Sunday to land his first trophy in SW19 and fourth overall Grand Slam title.
The world No.1 only returned from his suspension at the Italian Open in May – but has looked in fine form since his comeback on the ATP Tour.
Sinner reached the final in Rome and then was a runner-up at the French Open – and despite a shock loss in Halle – he's now won Wimbledon.
After landing the trophy at the All England Club, Sinner was asked if he was surprised by the level he's been able to reach so swiftly since returning from the ban.
Quizzed if someone had said to him if in February or March that he'd be a French Open runner-up and Wimbledon champion straight after his return from suspension, Sinner said: 'I would have not believed them, no, because it's so difficult already to arrive to the later stages of Grand Slams.
'Even if you're in great shape and you have the best preparation ever, it's so difficult.
'Standing here as a finalist in Roland-Garros, and when that moment was over, I felt like I did something great because it has been not easy.
'Coming here and winning Wimbledon, it has been amazing, no? Yeah, but in the same time I tried to believe in myself and to accept whatever happens.
'There is only one way, no, to get better as a player. This hopefully, if you do that, the chances that you win matches, it's higher because you put your effort in, daily effort.
'This is exactly what we did. From now on we're going to do it even more because there are players who are going to come. You have to be prepared.'
Sinner failed two drug tests in 2024, which eventually saw him suspended at all tennis competitions from February 9, 2025 to May 4, 2025 following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The 23-year-old Italian twice tested positive for clostebol – a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass.
WADA accepted Sinner's explanation that he was accidentally contaminated by a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the banned substance to treat a finger cut.
They ruled that Sinner 'did not intend to cheat' but insisted that he was responsible for his team's negligence, which ultimately saw him punished.
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz makes honest admission after Wimbledon final loss to Jannik Sinner
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Catchin' Sachin - Joe's route to 15,921
In the fourth round of the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, Roger Federer played his first and only competitive singles match against Pete Pete was a seven-time champion at the All England Club. Federer, a 19-year-old with a terrible ponytail and no major titles to his name, stunned the GOAT in five sets. Sampras played one more Wimbledon and Federer would go on to outstrip the American with eight is littered with torch-passing moments. Some obvious, others that reveal themselves in the fullness of 2012. Joe Root, days shy of his 22nd birthday, was called into the England Test side for the first time. Facing a four-pronged India spin attack, he impressed batting in his brand new navy blue cap. Scores of 73 and 20 not out helped England to a draw that sealed a famous 2-1 series the India team was Sachin Tendulkar. It was the singular occasion he shared the same field with Root in international cricket. Tendulkar, 39 at the time, played just six more Tests and did not make another hundred. He retired a year later with an unfathomable 15,921 to anyone at the time, the long pursuit had begun. Root was catchin' Sachin. At Old Trafford on Friday, Root was back against India. Surely no other Yorkshireman has ever been so at home in Manchester? Root's 38th Test century was as flawless as it was inevitable. Some 3,234 other men to have played Test cricket behind him. Only Tendulkar began the third Test fifth on the all-time run-getters' list. A score of 30 was needed to go past Rahul Dravid, 31 to edge ahead of Jacques would have been a flex to take down two greats with one swish of the blade, yet that is not Root's style. Each legend was given due respect. A single to pass Dravid, another to beat Kallis. Bowlers have contemplated heavy duty machinery to knock off either man. Root did it in the space of three deliveries and acknowledged the applause of the crowd with a bashful wave of his hand. There is a Rootian rhythm to batting, and he kept the beat throughout with all the greatest hits. Iron-straight defence, dabs to third man and shuffles off the hips. Urgent scampering between the wickets. Sweeps and reverses. The occasional glorious straight a century was what held most interest for Root, then the number 120 was what the Old Trafford crowd came for. Overhauling Ricky Ponting, the Australian run-machine. Someone call Sydney and tell them our man has more than yours.A steer behind point for one more, Ponting pushed down to the bronze-medal position. Up went Old Trafford, much to the confusion of Root's batting partner Ben Stokes, who did not appear to know what all the fuss what about. The Party Stand was still singing Root's name when Anshul Kamboj trudged in to bowl the next was ended on 150 by Ravindra Jadeja, a man who made his debut in the same Test as Root. 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The Independent
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