Sinner confides: "I realized who my real friends were".

Jannik Sinner made the front page of the Australian magazine Esquire published this Tuesday.

In a lengthy interview, he talked about his year, his progress, his style of play and the doping scandal that has involved him.

Still awaiting a hearing following the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal, the world No.1 looked back on this landmark episode in his season: "It was a difficult period. I couldn't talk to anyone about it. I couldn't ask for help.

Everyone who knew me and watched me play understood that something was wrong.

I had nights when I didn't sleep, because even if you're certain of your innocence, you know that these things are complex.

Everyone quickly came up with an explanation and I was allowed to play. But afterwards, I was afraid of people.

I went to practice in the Cincinnati clubhouse and thought, 'How do they look at me? What do they think of me?' I realized who my real friends were."