Rublev feels Sinner’s pain in doping case

Andrey Rublev can only imagine the trauma that Jannik Sinner felt upon testing positive for a microscopic amount of a banned substance last autumn.

The Italian world No. 1 who finished 2024 with eight titles and successfully proved his innocence in the doping affair, still has one more off-court fight remaining as his legal teams goes to the top sports court in Switzerland after anti-doping bosses appealed his innocent verdict.

That decision by Lausanne’s Court for Arbitration of Sport will not come down before mid-February, giving Sinner free reign to defend his 2024 Australian Open title.

Rublev expressed his dismay at the pressure being put on his rival, He told AFP:

 “You can’t wish any player to go through this. I can’t imagine the stress or anxiety he felt during this entire period,” Rublev said.

“He managed very well, he continued to play at his best level and managed to dominate the circuit despite everything by winning titles. It’s very impressive.”

He added: “I think the anti-doping system should be a little more understandable. In tennis, the rules are super strict, more so than in other sports. I feel like every little mistake, even when it’s unintentional, can threaten your career.”

For his part, the emotional world No. 8, who was defaulted form Dubai in February for screaming at a linesman and has been known to bloody himself with his own racquet in moments of frustration, said he will be working to curb his bad habits in 2025.

 “Honestly, it’s a long-term job. Sometimes you progress, you progress, then you regress a little bit. 

“There are a lot of elements that can make you lose your cool and fall back into your old habits. Of course I want to be the best! But it takes time.”