Jannik Sinner and Nicolas Jarry have one thing in common ahead of their first-round Australian Open clash. Both players tested positive for a banned substancebut with a massive difference!
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While Sinner never stopped playing, Jarrymissed tenmonths in 2020 and lost his place on the ranking list, starting from the beginning. Nicolas admitted he would have liked the same support Jannik received following his failed doping test.
The Chilean tested positive foranabolicagentligandrolandanabolicsteroid stanozolol during the 2019 Davis Cup Finals. He did not play between January and November, losing all the points and returning to Futures!
Nicolas needed two years to recover his game and seek high ranking positions, which happened in 2023. He became world no. 16 in May last year following the Rome Masters final.
Nicolas opened up about the most challenging period of his career. The doping scandal affected him personally and tennis-wise. Jarry feelsmuch better on the court than a couple of years ago. Although it's not easy, he hopes to leave that chapter of his life behind.
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The Chilean questioned the treatment he received after his failed doping test in comparison to Sinner. Last August,The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed that the Italian failed two doping tests in March for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid.
Sinner avoided a ban afteran independent tribunal ruled hehadno fault or negligenceand accepted his explanation ofhow the substance reached his body. The Italian lost 400 ATP points for reaching the Indian Wells Masters semi-final, but he never stopped playing.
Three months later, he became the 29th world no. 1. However, Jannik's case will receive the final verdict on April 16-17, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)sappeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"I would have loved to have the same support Jannik had when it happened to me. It affects me personally, and I can not escape that situation. I will never be the person I was before the suspension, in tennis and emotionally.
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The good thing is I feel better on the court than in the past. I'm playing well, and I'm grateful for that. I will keep working, and maybe it will go away one day so I can be 100% healthy again.
It may never happen, but I remain optimistic I can return the feelings as if I never had that injury," Nicolas Jarry said.
