CHARLY TRIBALLEAU-AFP
Newly crowned US Open champion Jannik Sinner admitted Sunday that the controversy over his two failed drug tests "was and is still on my mind".
The 23-year-old Italian defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets to win his second Grand Slam title to add to his first in Australia in January.
However, his path to victory was accompanied by questions over the affair which saw him twice test positive for banned substance clostebol in March.
He escaped a lengthy ban when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found he was not guilty of wrongdoing after he had been inadvertently contaminated by his physio.
The Italian sacked physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferrara, citing a loss of confidence in them.
The decision to clear the Italian was met with scepticism by some players in the locker room who suggested that Sinner had benefitted from preferential treatment due to his status in the sport.
"It was and it's still on my mind. It's not that it's gone, but when I'm on the court, I try to focus on the game, I try to handle the situation the best possible way, communication with the team, in the practice courts," said the world number one.
"It was not easy, that's for sure, but I tried to stay focused, with which I guess I've done a great job."
Sinner admitted that the case had cast a cloud over him but he believes that fans and most players have been supportive.
"Obviously it was very difficult for me to enjoy in certain moments," he added.
"Also how I behaved or how I walked on the court in certain tournaments before, it was not the same as I used to be, so whoever knows me better, they know that something was wrong.
"But during this tournament, slowly I restarted to feel a little bit more how I am as a person. Doesn't really matter how or what the result was. So this tournament, for sure, helped me a little bit."
Despite the controversy, Sinner is enjoying a stellar season.
His triumph on Sunday allowed him to become the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.
Thank you New York!! ????
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) September 8, 2024
Incredibly special to win my second slam title here after a great two weeks. Thank you for all the support, it means so much. I love this sport and it means everything to me, time to enjoy this moment with my team and my family before we get back to work… pic.twitter.com/oolNYXWWrk
© Agence France-Presse
