The defeat took a toll on the four-time title winner, who thought Sinner had no future. “I called my agent, and my coach wasn’t even there at the time, he was flying in the next day, but I’m like, ‘I just lost to - this kid sucks, he’s terrible. I’m literally quitting tennis for the rest of your life.’”

In Turin, Jannik Sinner is like a politician on the campaign trail, barely able to speak for the roars of his fans

A final verdict in the doping case involving top-ranked Jannik Sinner likely won’t come until early next year.