Although World No.1 Jannik Sinner won his third Grand Slam title, the possibility of a lengthy suspension due to the doping scandal is looming over him. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled the hearing of Sinner’s case in April.

Sinner, on Sunday (January 26), defended his Australian Open title with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over World No.2 Alexander Zverev in the final. Tennis great John McEnroe, while lauding Sinner’s mental strength, said he thinks there’s a possibility of the World No.1 wasting his time on the sidelines if CAS’ verdict doesn’t come out in his favor.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found clostebol in his sample twice, due to which he faced two provisional suspensions. But the ITIA believed in his explanation about how it entered his body and he faced no more punishment.

He was contaminated due to his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi, who was using an over-the-counter spray that had clostebol. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenged ITIA’s verdict and approached CAS to demand a ban on the three-time Grand Slam champion.

Jannik Sinner‘s apartment in Monte-Carlos is not spacious, which is why he wants to give his Australian Open trophy to his parents, Johann Sinner and Siglinde Sinner, both of who live in Italy. His parents didn’t travel Down Under to witness his successful run, but his brother Marc Sinner saw him lift his second Australian Open on the trot.

Last year, the 23-year-old became the first man from Italy to win a Grand Slam singles title in 48 years when he lifted the Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. He then doubled his Major tally with a straight-set win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open final of the same year.