WATCH: Jannik Sinner refuses to name "snakes" on ATP Tour; pretends not to understand the question during amusing interaction

Jannik Sinner expertly dodged a question about potential “snakes” on the ATP Tour during his appearance at the 2024 SuperTennis Awards in Milan. The World No. 1 couldn’t control his laughter afterwards.

On December 4, Sinner attended the awards show in Milan alongside his compatriots Matteo Berrettini and Jasmine Paolini, among others. The 23-year-old, who looked dapper in his Gucci suit, was honored with the ‘Player of the Year’ award, thanks to his historic 2024 campaign.

Jannik Sinner and Berrettini also took the stage during a comedic segment with Italian television presenter Piero Chiambretti. At one point during the conversation, the World No. 1 was quizzed about the number of backstabbers he’d encountered on the tour.

"But how many snakes are there on the ATP circuit?" Chiambretti humorously asked (Translated from Italian).

Sinner, who was in splits, refused an answer while pretending he didn't understand the question.

"No, I didn't understand this one," he hesitantly said, laughing.

Watch the video here:

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"There's a large number who I thought were friends, instead they're not" – Jannik Sinner on what his doping test ordeal taught him

Jannik Sinner pictured with his year-end World No. 1 trophy at the 2024 ATP Finals 2024 - Source: Getty

While Jannik Sinner enjoyed his most successful campaign yet in 2024, the Italian was also faced with the accusations of doping after his tests from March 2024 came out positive for extremely low traces of a banned substance called Clostebol.

The news came to light in August after the ITIA declared him innocent. The evidence provided indicated that the two-time Grand Slam champion was unintentionally contaminated after direct contact with his physiotherapist, who had applied a Clostebol-containing medication on his own injured finger. The case is still ongoing as the WADA has appealed the “no fault or negligence” verdict.

Amid the distressing ordeal, Jannik Sinner hinted at feeling isolated and also shared how his unfortunate news was received by his colleagues. In one such interview with Sky Sports, the player said:

"I am convinced that nothing happens by chance, and perhaps this chance was precisely to understand who is your friend and who is not. And I separated these two matters."

He indicated that some players, who he believed were his “friends,” showed their true colors. The World No. 1, however, also added that some others, who he wasn’t close with, pleasantly surprised him.

"I understood that there are many players who I didn't think were my friends, and there is a fairly large number who I thought were friends and instead they are not," he said. "And in the end I don't say that this did me any good, but it made me understand a lot of things."