Petkovic on Sinner's absence from the ATP Awards: "If he's suspended, the ATP doesn't want him on the list".
The 2024 tennis season has officially come to an end with Italy's Davis Cup triumph.
Jannik Sinner concluded his fantastic year by adding a ninth title to his credit since January.
The nominees for the ATP Awards have been revealed, and surprise, surprise, the world number 1 is not represented.
Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi are not among the contenders for the title of Coach of the Season, which has caused quite a stir.
Former professional player between 2006 and 2022, Germany's Andrea Petkovic gave her thoughts on the subject to Tennis Up to Date.
"It's because if Jannik Sinner is suspended for doping, the ATP doesn't want to see him on the list. We don't yet know the World Anti-Doping Agency's final decision," she said.
"I don't know if protect is the right word, but let's say they protect themselves from a situation where we have the fair play award going to Sinner and Darren Cahill is voted coach of the year while he's suspended from the ATP tour for a few months.
If you allow him to play and you allow Darren to coach, then why do you leave him off this list?
It's ridiculous. I can tell that I perceive it in a strange way, somewhere. It's just self-protection. They don't want to have to explain anything.
They just want to protect themselves from a disastrous situation where he gets the fair-play award before being banned for doping", concluded the former WTA world number 9.
