Injury package just a year ago, its best result in Rome, a quarter -final lost against Stefanos tsitsipasdates back to 2022. Before his explosion, before he became the undisputed master of world tennis by winning last season eight titles, including the Australian Open, the US Open and the Masters ATP.
But 2024 will also remain marked by its positive anti -doping control on the sidelines of the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells: a resounding case which he hopes to have sold by accepting in February a suspension of three months, but which continues to divide the world of tennis. If the accidental contamination of an anabolic, via a massage provided by a member of his entourage, has never been called into question, the agreement reached with the world anti -doping agency which initially aimed at two years of suspension, made its teeth cringe.
“At first, he recognized, I did not want this agreement, it was not easy for me to accept it, because I really know what happened, but sometimes, you have to know how to get the best out of a bad situation and that’s what we did“. “It’s all over now, I’m happy to be able to replay“, insisted the native of the Haut-Adige who will be the first opponent of Argentinian Mariano Navone (99th) or the great Italian hope Federico China (323e).
“My goal is Roland-Garros, However, he warned, I’m here to see where I am, to try to pass my first round, not to beat everyone. Each match will be difficult, but I am very serene, well physically and morally, rested and it will pay at the end of the season“.
