Jannik Sinner swept past Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in the second round of the
US Open. But mainly the talk again surrounding his recent doping scandal and also
Nick Kyrgios.
Kyrgios has been doing the interviews for ESPN during this tournament for instance with Van de Zandschulp and Muchova during the night. But of course there are issues between Sinner and Kyrgios perhaps which add spice to the debate.
Kyrgios has been an open critic of the situation involving Sinner albeit very important to add not of the World No.1 and as ever the Italian had a pretty measured verdict when quizzed on whether he would answer the questions of the Aussie.
“I don’t want to respond to what he said,” said Sinner. "Everyone is free to say everything. It’s ok. If that is the case, let’s see. It’s gonna be different for sure (smiling). I don’t know what to say. Maybe I say something now and then the reaction will be something else. I’m always quite relaxed.
“I’m someone who forgets things quite fast. Everyone is free to say everything. It is what it is.”
But also he hinted at a frosty atmosphere in the locker room after his scandal and that it shows him who his real friends are and those who pro-port to be.
“It helps me to see who my friends are and who are not my friends,” he continued.
“I wish nobody has this experience to grow because this is a different way of experience, but you also realize that there is also a life outside of tennis, which is much more important than what we do because our daily routine is to hit tennis balls and go in the gym.
“Then, you know, you see that some people, they are sick. There are different things that come to my mind. I said, okay, tennis is big for me because it showed me what I am as a person and how important the sport is, but in the other way there is a life outside of tennis, which is even more important.
“Trying to be healthy, surround yourself with good people. That is more important for me.
“Then on the tennis court obviously I try to do my best. I try to fight and let the spectators enjoy also the show.For me, I believe that I have grown also as a person this period regardless of how everything is going, which hopefully can help me in the future.”
He also confirmed that he has not yet replaced Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi who were engulfed in the scandal as his physio and fitness coach.
“I don’t want to talk about this at the moment,” he added. “We are trying to understand who would be the best option now. Not easy obviously to find now in the middle of the season, you know, the physical trainer and the physio.
“We try our best to find the best people, and then we see. After the US Open hopefully I have something. Yeah, so let’s see.”
