Sinner hails Draper’s support as Djokovic splits with Murray

WORLD No 1 Jannik Sinner has said the support and friendship he received from Jack Draper during his three-month ban for a doping violation gave him the positive energy he needed to endure a difficult period.

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Sinner accepted the ban following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February, after authorities agreed that the anabolic agent clostebol had inadvertently entered his system via massages from his physiotherapist.

While some players questioned whether Sinner had received prefer-ential treatment, Briton Draper stood by his fellow 23-year-old.

The pair trained together ahead of the Italian Open, where both are competing this week.

“We find ourselves in a great friend-ship because we're very similar as peo-ple. We’re humble. We try to do our best on the court. Off court, we’re very simple people,” Sinner told reporters.