Jimmy Connors makes his feelings known about Jannik Sinner facing potential ban from tennis amid doping row

Jimmy Connors recently opined that tennis wouldn't be able to 'survive' if Jannik Sinner was handed a ban. He feels that while the sport has seen lower-ranked players get harsher verdicts in the past, the World No. 1 being banned from competing would be severely detrimental.

The tennis world was shocked when it was revealed in August that Sinner had tested positive for Clostebol, a banned anabolic substance, during the Indian Wells Masters this year. However, the Italian argued that the substance had entered his body through bare-handed massages from his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi, who had used a healing spray containing Clostebol for a cut on his finger.

The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) cleared the World No. 1 to compete following his appeal, citing that the amount of the substance detected in his body was deemed non-performance-enhancing. This news sparked a heated debate within the tennis community, with some supporting the Italian player while others felt that he received lenient treatment.

However, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has appealed the ITIA's verdict to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) calling for a potential one to two-year ban on Sinner.

Amidst this whirlwind, Sinner managed to grab the Cincinnati and Shanghai Masters, the US Open, and the inaugural Six Kings Slam.

During a discussion of the 23-year-old’s doping controversy on his podcast, Advantage Connors, hosted by Jimmy Connors and his son Brett Connors, the eight-time Grand Slam champion suggested that playing tennis provided Sinner with a much-needed distraction from the turmoil surrounding his personal life.

“It’s his escape. Once he is out on that court he has too much to think about. His own game, his opponent. He knows what it is going to take to win,” Connors said." But what do you do for the other 20 hours over the rest of the day?"

Connors said that tennis had seen a lot of younger players being banned in the past for doping controversies, but opined that the sport wouldn't 'survive' a Jannik Sinner ban.

"I am not so close to it that I understand just what a grain of salt of that does. And to be honest, that’s not my style to be a part of that.”

“Listen, all I know is that I don’t think tennis at that level could survive that to hit a top player. They have shown in the past that they are not afraid to hit lower ranked players and discard them from the game. But I don’t know if tennis at that level could take it.”

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I lost a little bit of smile" - Jannik Sinner opens up about how the doping ordeal has affected him

Jannik Sinner with the Six Kings Slam(Source: Getty)

After triumphing at the Shanghai Masters by defeating Novak Djokovic and winning his seventh title of the year, Jannik Sinner admitted that his tumultuous life off the court had taken away his smile on some occasions.

"Well, I know this year has been very, very tough for me because of other circumstances, and, you know, at points I lost a little bit of smile because I had some issues off the court, and then they're still in my mind sometimes," Sinner said.

He talked about people feeling that his massive on-court success overshadowed all the problems he was struggling with behind the scenes, which was far from the truth.

"You know, people, they think that, you know, by winning or having success that you don't have any problems, but it's not true, you know, because I'm, the situation where I'm in, obviously, it's not comfortable, and I wish I would not be in this position where I am right now off the court, and playing freely more on the court, and trying even to enjoy it a little bit more. But, you know, you have to accept it."

Sinner added that he had learned that success would not change him as a person, which was a lesson his triumphant 2024 season had taught him.

On the tennis side of things, the World No. 1 has confirmed his spot as the year-end World No. 1. He is slated to play at the Paris Masters next following which he will compete at the Nitto ATP Finals.