If there’s one name dominating tennis lately, it’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The 23-year-old Italian burst into the spotlight last season by winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. He then claimed seven more titles—including the US Open—and became the first Italian to reach World No.1. This year, he defended his AO crown and won his first Wimbledon title, holding tight to that top spot. But from February to May, Sinner disappeared from the court due to a doping ban. That sparked questions: how did he stay No. 1? And what was he doing during those three months off?

Here’s a quick recap. Sinner’s 2024 season was dazzling but not without drama. In March, news broke that he tested positive twice for the banned substance Clostebol—just before the US Open. By August, the ITIA cleared him under no fault or negligence after he proved the substance came from a cream his former physio used. Yet WADA and CAS weren’t so forgiving. The case dragged on until February this year.

Initially intended to face a one-to-two-year ban, they eventually agreed on a unique three-month suspension—from February 9 to May 4—due to the low substance levels. During that time, he vanished from social media, save for a few public appearances like the Gucci fashion show in Milan. Fans were left guessing. But not anymore!

Now, Jannik Sinner is gearing up to defend his title at the Cincinnati Open. At a recent press conference, he revealed something exciting… that “he has some videos coming from when he was on the 3 month ban, not tennis related.” The scoop was shared via Ground Passpod on X! But where will these videos drop?

If you haven’t checked it out yet, Jannik has a YouTube channel. He launched it earlier this year during the Australian Open to give fans a behind-the-scenes look. His first video, titled ‘Jannik Sinner – Winning my second Australian Open title!’, is an eight-minute montage of his Melbourne Grand Slam journey. Then, after his ban ended in May, he dropped a video about his time “back in Rome”—highlighting his first tournament post-ban!

Jannik isn’t the most open book on tour. Despite having 5 million followers on Instagram, he mostly shares his on-court life. He’s even explained why he keeps his personal life so private.

Jannik Sinner reveals why he keeps his personal life private

Last year, in a candid Vanity Fair chat, Sinner opened up about how he wants to be seen in tennis. After his ABN AMRO win, right after his 2024 Australian Open triumph, his rapid rise was impossible to ignore. Fans and even some former critics showered him with praise. But with fame came questions—especially about his private life.

Jannik isn’t one to spill his personal story easily. When the topic arises, he swiftly switches gears. He said, “I like talking about tennis, and sport in general. But if it refers to private life, it’s true, I want to keep it that way. I want to protect the people closest to me, keeping them out of all this. I see it as a small task to carry out, almost a duty: they helped me, as a young man, to gain self-confidence, and today in some way I want to protect them. I might even talk about it.” Classic Sinner—focused, protective, and honest.

Born in 2001, Jannik Sinner grew up in Innichen, a quiet mountain town. He first chased skiing before switching to tennis at 13. His parents, Johann and Siglinde, worked in hospitality, and he has an older adopted brother, Mark. Off-court, he’s low-key. Despite millions of followers, he fiercely guards his private world. Now, he calls Monte Carlo home and effortlessly switches between German, Italian, and English. Tennis is his passion, but privacy remains his shield.

He wants fans to celebrate his tennis, nothing else. “But the people close to me think like me on this issue. Because they are very similar to me: we understand each other with a look, in a second,” he said. He dodges distractions that interfere with training but stays real. “If I feel like going to the zoo, for example, I go. I’m a boy… normal, off the court.”

Now, with a second Masters 1000 event ahead where he’s the defending champ, everyone’s buzzing: can he defend his crown after that Wimbledon stunner? Share your thoughts in the comments below!