Jannik Sinner has opened up on his “difficult” 2025 Australian Open after he came into the tournament under a doping cloud.

Sinner had tested positive to Clostebol in 2024 and in February after the Open, a case resolution was announced with WADA which led to a three-month suspension.

The genesis of that suspension was the fact he’d been found to have no fault or negilegence due to the positive test coming from a spray used by his masseuse.

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Jannik Sinner.  Getty

Speaking ahead of his title defence, Sinner explained he was carrying the weight of the unknown last year.

“It was definitely a much more difficult situation because in this moment last year I didn’t know exactly what’s going to happen,” he said.

“So I tried to enjoy it still when you go out on the court but you still have it in your head kind of.

“It was difficult. Now it’s tough to say because, you know, I know the ending, you know? I knew the kind of ending, I knew what was coming out. In the same time it was difficult for me, but also for the family. I tried to stay with the people I really love, which at times worked very well.”

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Sinner and decision makers copped criticism in the wake of the suspension with Novak Djokovic making claims that the majority of players felt there was “favouritism” happening.

Nick Kyrgios had described the deal with WADA as a “sad day for tennis”.

Sinner also said last year he had considered quitting tennis during the tournament and claimed “players were looking at me differently”.

While Sinner wasn’t specifically asked about any external comments during the process, he did admit there were times of disappointment.

“But it is what it is, right? After that, I think everything happens for a reason. It got me even stronger as a person,” he said.

“It doesn’t take away the player’s part. The person I’ve become, it’s much more mature in a way because I see things in different ways when they’re not going in the right direction.

“I surrounded myself with really, really good people. I’m very happy with the people I have. So that for me is the most important [thing]. Whatever comes on court, the result-wise, that’s all an extra. I live the sport also in a very different way now, which is relaxed, but I give everything I have. It’s a balance of everything. I’m very happy.”