Jannik Sinner’s road to the US Open title was made far easier by some really high-profile early exits in New York, but that should not diminish what he accomplished over those two weeks.
After all, it did not just take a remarkable showing of physicality after some frustrating and untimely bouts of illness throughout the year, but also a fine feat of emotional fortitude too.
As the media pressure ramped upon him as many questioned why his drugs case was swept under the rug, now, a week after the US Open final, Casper Ruud has come out in defence of the 23-year-old.
Casper Ruud reacts to Jannik Sinner’s drug case
Speaking to TV2, once again asked about Jannik Sinner’s drugs case despite that saga having officially concluded before the US Open, naturally interest was bound to spike again.
After all, the Italian dispelled all off-court drama to actually go on and win the title in New York, thus sparking fresh controversy.
However, Ruud sought to defend his fellow tennis superstar, arguing: ‘I noticed at the start, before I got into the case and the sequence of events, that I also thought there were a few owls in the bog (something fishy afoot).
‘He is No. 1 in the world, there had to be discrimination. But then I familiarised myself with the case and the rules.
‘If you have read the documents and understand the process in this type of case, then you understand that there is no discrimination here.
‘What Sinner has done well, in order to defend himself, is that he managed to find an explanation within 15 days after testing positive. He understood quite quickly where it came from.
‘There are not many athletes who manage to come up with an explanation within 15 days, but Jannik has managed it. It speaks in his favour that he quickly found out where the substance came from and that he has a reasonable explanation.
‘This is an extremely small dose that has come through some skin rashes, as far as I understand, and I expect that there are good doctors who look at this and think that there is an explanation that can be credible.’
When will we see Jannik Sinner back on court next?
Having led Italy to their first Davis Cup final title in nearly 50 years last year, there was naturally an expectation that Jannik Sinner would be present once again to help defend it.
However, having reached the US Open final, he was instead only there in support, watching stars like Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi instead earn qualification from the group in Bologna.
His decision to skip the Laver Cup will only extend the break he is enjoying from tennis, making the China Open his likely next event.
This was arguably the tournament that put Sinner on the map in the tennis world, as he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals and then Daniil Medvedev in the final to claim the title last year.
He will be hoping to retain this trophy ahead of the Shanghai Masters event in early October.
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