ATP: Jannik Sinner Reflects on Historic 2024 Season as He Prepares for Australian Open Defense

• Jannik Sinner marked his first match of 2025 with a tough victory over Alexei Popyrin in Melbourne.
• He reflects on a groundbreaking 2024, having won the US Open, ATP Finals, and helped Italy secure a second consecutive Davis Cup.
• Despite skipping lead-up events, Sinner is focused on his Australian Open defense, with confidence from his preparation.
• He faces a doping cloud after twice testing positive for clostebol, though he was cleared of wrongdoing, with a pending appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency.

World number one Jannik Sinner made a strong start to his 2025 campaign by defeating Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in a tough exhibition match on Melbourne’s centre court. This victory marked his return to competition after an extraordinary 2024 season. Sinner’s breakthrough year included his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, followed by triumphs at the US Open and ATP Finals, and a pivotal role in Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup win. Despite a hectic year, Sinner is determined to leave 2024 behind as he prepares to defend his title at the Australian Open.

Though he opted out of lead-up events to the season’s first major, Sinner is confident that his training will serve him well on the court. He acknowledged the challenges of his preparation, including the dramatic temperature difference between his snowy Christmas in Italy and the sweltering 40°C (104°F) Melbourne day.

However, Sinner’s campaign is shadowed by a lingering doping investigation. After twice testing positive for clostebol in March, he was cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which accepted his explanation that the steroid entered his system via treatment for a cut by his physiotherapist. Despite his exoneration, the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision, and Sinner is awaiting the final verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.