Sawt Falasteen - Three things on US Open champion Jannik Sinner

Doping test cloud

-- Sinner arrived in New York at the centre of controversy after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction when officials decided he wasn't at fault for the presence of banned anabolic agent clostebol.

Sinner argued that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided him with massage and sports therapy.

Sinner fired physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferrara -- who supplied Naldi with the spray -- citing a loss of confidence in them.

The Italian may not be free of the controversy just yet as WADA, sports' global anti-doping body, reserves the right to appeal the decision made by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to clear Sinner of wrongdoing.

Sinner insists fans have treated him fairly in New York.

"I feel it has been great, also throughout when the news came out, in the practice sessions, there was a lot of support," said Sinner.

"It's still a little bit not easy. You have to go through day by day."

Private life

-- Sinner is dating Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, the world number 15, who is five years his senior.

"Of course it's not easy, I travel a lot and during tournaments I'm very focused. But I think it's a beautiful thing when you find the right love," Sinner was quoted as saying by Vanity Fair Italia.

During the French Open, Sinner confirmed his relationship with Kalinskaya.

"Yes, I'm with Anna, but we keep everything very confidential. I won't say more."

Moscow-born Kalinskaya was defeated in the third round of the women's singles at the US Open but was regularly spotted in Sinner's player box supporting the world number one on his way to the final.

The two shared a kiss after his title victory on Sunday.

King of the slope

-- Sinner was a top class skier in his younger days before he switched full-time to tennis.

Multiple Olympic and world skiing champion Lindsey Vonn even described him as the "best skier to win a Grand Slam" after his Australian Open triumph in January this year.

Sinner was Italian slalom champion as a junior after picking up the skiing bug from his parents, Hanspeter and Siglinde, who now run a hotel called Talschlusshütte in the Dolomites, near the border with Austria.

His father has recently started following him to tournaments.

"He loves cooking, I can make sure I'm eating right and we can make up for time we've not spent together," said Sinner.

The Italian is also an accomplished footballer.

The president of his youth team AFC Sexten, Wolfram Egarter, said in an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport in January that Sinner was his most talented player.

D.Khalil--SF-PST