Oct 14,V7N-World number one Jannik Sinner expressed that he worked hard to stay composed and not let his ongoing doping controversy impact his performance after his 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday.

In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency revealed Sinner had failed two drug tests in March but was cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal. The tribunal accepted Sinner's explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol had entered his system through massages and sports therapy from a member of his support team.

However, in September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced it would appeal the tribunal's decision and sought a suspension of up to two years for the Italian player. WADA's decision came just before Sinner lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open final, with Sinner, a U.S. and Australian Open champion, admitting that the situation left him feeling uneasy heading into the Shanghai Masters.

Speaking after his win in Shanghai, Sinner acknowledged how challenging this year has been due to off-court issues. "At times, I lost some of my joy because of everything happening off the court, and those thoughts still cross my mind sometimes," he told reporters. "People think winning or being successful means you don’t have problems, but I’m in a situation that I wish I wasn’t. But I’ve learned to accept it and focus on giving 100% in every match and practice."

Sinner's victory over Djokovic brings his total titles this year to seven, including two Grand Slams, three ATP Masters 1000 titles, and wins in Rotterdam and Halle. This season has been his most successful yet. When asked about his growth over the past year, the 23-year-old explained: "Physically, I feel ready to compete at the highest level for extended periods. Mentally, I’ve become more capable of handling difficult situations on court. I believe that has been my biggest improvement, and hopefully, it will continue to help me next year."

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