Die kleine Südtiroler Reisegruppe war blendend gelaunt. Vor dem dritten Gruppenspiel von Jannik Sinner bei den ATP-Finals in Turin am Donnerstag in der Inalpi Arena traf sich die Runde im gegenübergelegenen „Fan-Village“, um sich auf das Match gegen Daniil Medwedew einzustimmen. Es gab italienisches Bier aus Plastikbechern für die Freunde aus Innichen, jenem Ort im Pustertal, in dem Sinner aufgewachsen ist. Einen Kleinbus haben sie sich gemietet für die fünfstündige Fahrt nach Turin.
Mit am Tisch saß auch Andreas Schönegger, Sinners erster Trainer. Zwei Frauen vom Tourismusverband „Drei Zinnen“, der Wirt aus der Bar „da Marco“ in Innichen und auch der Bruder von Sinners Vater Hanspeter komplettierten die Runde. „Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit“, stimmte einer an, alle sangen mit.
Sinner ist ein Superstar in Italien
In der Mitte des Tischen lag ein gerupftes Gummihuhn, ein Glücksbringer. Alle aus der Gruppe kennen Sinner gut, so ist das auf dem Dorf. Kurz vor Matchbeginn schauten auch noch Sinners Eltern kurz vorbei. „Der Zusammenhalt ist sehr groß“, sagte Schönegger, der Sinner mit dreieinhalb Jahren die ersten Schläge auf dem Tennisplatz beigebracht hat.
Sinner ist ein Superstar in Italien, er ist der beste Tennisspieler der Welt. Bei den ATP-Finals herrscht ein Hype um den eigentlich so bescheidenen Rotschopf. In Turin ist nicht nur die wunderschöne Innenstadt rund um die Mole Antonelliana mit überdimensionalen Postern, die sein immer noch jungenhaftes Gesicht zeigen, behangen.
The hustle and bustle is a bit too much for the South Tyroleans. “At home there is also euphoria about Jannik, but things are quieter. Jannik is also a quiet guy,” said one of the group on Thursday before the match. A short time later, the Italian world number one easily beat Medvedev 6:3, 6:4 and knocked the former champion out of the tournament. It was Sinner’s third win in the third game. This Saturday (8:30 p.m.) the 23-year-old will play against Norwegian Casper Ruud for a place in the final of the year-end tournament for the best eight tennis professionals.
Ban of one to two years required
It was also the perfect evening for the small delegation from South Tyrol. He remained that way for Sinner himself. Even though he was confronted with a question about doping history late at the press conference. After two positive doping tests in March for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol, Sinner was actually acquitted by an independent court.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada objected to the acquittal and is calling for a ban of one to two years. The case is now before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. A final decision should now be made at the beginning of the year.
A media representative wanted to know whether the whole thing would stress him out and in any way distract him from playing tennis here in Turin. Sinner remained relaxed and confident in his answer: “I am very confident,” he confirmed: “We had the hearing three times. I was proven right three times.”
Of course he doesn’t like being in this position. He will continue to work with everyone, as he has done so far. Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance had accidentally entered his body through a massage given by his physiotherapist, who has since been fired, was viewed as conclusive until WADA objected. He still relies on that today.
On Thursday, ATP boss Andrea Gaudenzi also addressed this topic in an informal press session. In Turin, the Italian rejected the idea that the process was taking too long. In an ideal world, justice would certainly be served very quickly, says Gaudenzi: “But the reality is that sometimes it takes time.” Otherwise, the likelihood of errors would increase. “Perhaps the communication could have been better when explaining these rules,” he added. At least he admitted that. Gaudenzi also said the case was “a shock.”
For the group from Innichen he still is. “Especially because no one knows what is happening now. A ban would be a catastrophe. But it’s also true: We know Jannik, we know that he wasn’t guilty of anything. The topic has to be taken off the table, there was no intention behind it. We have a lot of trust,” said Andreas Schönegger in a recent interview.
