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Jack Draper believes it has been important to stand up for his friend Jannik Sinner and that the Italian is undeserving of any hate as he prepares to return from his three-month doping ban next month.
“When people ask about him, or anyone, I’ll tell the truth,” said Draper. “I think Jannik is a really, really genuine, nice person. And on top of that, he’s obviously an unbelievable player. In this situation, I’m sure that he would have absolutely zero idea of anything. That’s just the way life goes – sometimes there’s mistakes.
“In terms of actually how I feel about him as a person, I think it’s important for people to know and recognise that the guy’s very, very kind-hearted and a good human being. So he doesn’t deserve any of the hate that he gets.”
Last week, after flying home following his difficult third-round loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte Carlo, the British No 1 returned to Monaco for a three-day training block with Sinner. Draper is the first top player to train with the Italian as he plots his return.
The pair played both on indoor clay at Tennis Club de Beaulieu, which generated some attention since an ITF Junior event was being played at the same venue, and at the Monte Carlo Country Club, the venue of the Masters 1000 event.
“I was looking for practice for the week and I knew that Jannik was available and in Monte Carlo on the clay so organised with his team to go out there for three or four days and to train with him,” he said. “I mean, look, if you can train with anyone, it’s got to be probably the best in the world, right? He’s obviously had a bit of time off, but he’s playing at an incredible level still. I’m looking forward to having him back on the tour, because I think his presence has been missed. It was great to be with him for a few days and get some good sparring.”
Sinner is now in the final stretch of his three-month ban arising from his testing positive for the banned substance clostebol last March and he will return on home soil at the Italian Open next month, which will be a significant event for one of his country’s most prominent athletes.
Shortly before the US Open last August, Sinner received a judgment of no fault or negligence and no suspension at a first-instance hearing. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) then appealed against the decision to the court of arbitration for sport. The hearing had initially been scheduled to begin last week but in February Wada and Sinner’s team agreed on a case resolution agreement – essentially a settlement – with the two parties agreeing on a three-month ban.
According to Wada rules, Sinner had been banned from all officially sanctioned tournament venues for the first two months of his suspension but he was allowed to return to training at official venues and with his colleagues from one month before his return to competition.
Both 23, Draper and Sinner played each other in doubles as juniors and have become friends during their time in the professional circuit. Sinner sent Draper messages of encouragement during his injury problems and even once taught the Englishman how to cook pasta. Since Sinner’s case was made public before the US Open in August, Draper has been supportive. In New York, days after the case had come to light, Draper stressed that he believed Sinner did not intentionally cheat. Privately, Draper has sent Sinner messages of encouragement, telling the world No 1 that he has been an inspiration in his own career.
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As both players prepared for their tournaments in the coming weeks, Draper attempting to make progress on clay and Sinner looking towards his return, their time on-court was all business: “I didn’t speak to him too much to be honest,” said Draper. “On the court always, Jannik is very professional. He’s No 1 in the world for a reason. He’s very consistent, playing great. [That] hasn’t changed that at all. Maybe a bit rusty in some areas, but at the same time, he’s improving every day. The more points we played, the more he was getting better.”
Despite contesting only one tournament this year, winning the Australian Open in January, Sinner remains the ATP No 1 by nearly 2,000 points and he has only just been leapfrogged by Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the ATP Race, which is compiled solely of results registered in this calendar year. Draper sits one spot beneath Sinner in the ATP Race at No 4.
Seeded fifth in Madrid, Draper has received a first round bye and he will begin his tournament against either Tallon Griekspoor or a qualifier. Cameron Norrie, meanwhile, will face Martín Landaluce and has been joined in the main draw by Jacob Fearnley, who qualified with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Hugo Dellien.
In the women’s draw, Emma Raducanu will face Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands, who recently defeated Katie Boulter in the Billie Jean King Cup. Sonay Kartal will open her tournament against Jaqueline Cristian. Boulter faces Katerina Siniakova.
