Jannik Sinner’s former coach Riccardo Piatti has predicted that the world No 1 will turn the “very unpleasant” situation of his doping ban into “something positive.”
Piatti played an integral role in Sinner’s development as a player, having coached the Italian from the age of 13 until 20. Sinner chose to end the collaboration in February 2022.
Sinner has been unable to play since defending his Australian Open title in January due to a three-month doping suspension that started on February 9 and runs until May 4.
The Italian tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024 — during and after the Indian Wells Masters.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that Sinner would not serve a ban after an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”
Sinner 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.
However, 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 the world No 1.
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The appeal was set to be heard at CAS in April, but WADA announced in February it had reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal team for him to serve a three-month ban.
The 23-year-old has missed tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, while he will also be unable to play the upcoming Madrid Open.
The Italian is set to make his comeback on home soil at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, which will begin on May 7. Sinner has also added the ATP 500 in Hamburg to his schedule prior to the French Open.
Speaking to SuperTennis TV, Piatti suggested Sinner has a plan to complete a historic Calendar Grand Slam by winning the remaining three majors in 2025.
“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.”
The Italian added: “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.”
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The post ‘Jannik Sinner has a very important card up his sleeve to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open’ appeared first on Tennis365.
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