\n<\/p>\n
Backing up the finest season of your career \u2013 and one of the most dominant in recent memory \u2013 is the challenge facing Sinner this year.<\/p>\n
The manner in which he has swept to the Australian Open suggests he is more than capable of reaching the same heights which led to two major trophies, six more ATP titles, a Davis Cup triumph with Italy and an overall record of 73 wins from 79 matches.<\/p>\n
What makes his achievements even more extraordinary is the unsettling situation surrounding his ongoing doping case.<\/p>\n
It was announced in August that Sinner had tested positive for the banned substance clostebol, sending shockwaves around the sport.<\/p>\n
In a difficult time, the tennis court has become his sanctuary.<\/p>\n
Mental steeliness has been one of Sinner’s key strengths in his ascent to becoming the ATP Tour’s most dominant player and his ability to block out the noise has been useful.<\/p>\n
Sinner’s coping mechanism has been to try and “isolate” himself but his coach Darren Cahill provided a telling insight when he said nobody is “bulletproof”.<\/p>\n
However, Sinner has been as close to fully-armoured as he could have been in the circumstances.<\/p>\n
He has swatted his way through the draw with relative ease, with perhaps the hot and humid conditions in his fourth-round match against Denmark’s Holger Rune being his toughest opponent.<\/p>\n
The way in which he ruthlessly dismantled Zverev was a stark contrast to the fight he needed to recover from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev last year.<\/p>\n
Sinner did not face a single break point against Zverev and the way he secured his first championship point – calmly luring his opponent forward with a drop-shot before drilling a backhand past him – illustrated the ease he felt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n