Months after Novak Djokovic cried favoritism over the best way skilled tennis dealt with penalties for optimistic doping instances from World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek this 12 months, Aryna Sabalenka shared her opinion on the scenario and what gamers need to cope with involving drug checks.
Sabalenka, the present No. 1-ranked girls’s participant, will tackle 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” match in Dubai on Dec. 28. The pair appeared on Piers Morgan this week to preview the competition later this month earlier than the dialog shifted to Sinner.
Sinner obtained a three-month suspension earlier this 12 months after he was discovered to have hint quantities of Clostebol in his pattern final 12 months and didn’t miss any Grand Slam tournaments. Sinner examined optimistic on March 10, 2024, throughout the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and examined optimistic a second time eight days later.
Sinner and his group argued the pattern was from a therapeutic massage from a coach who used a substance to deal with a reduce on his finger. The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company accepted this rationalization and selected to not transfer ahead with any prices in opposition to Sinner. Nevertheless, the World Anti-Doping Company challenged that call and was pushing for no less than a one-year ban for the Italian.
“We’re undecided what really occurring there,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I consider in clear sport and I additionally consider that everybody need to be handled the identical. However on the identical time, I do not consider that there was one thing in there, to be sincere. Me, I am actually making an attempt to watch out with all the things and overprotecting myself after a few instances, as a result of you may eat one thing in [a] restaurant and then you definitely check optimistic.”
Earlier this 12 months, Djokovic mentioned Sinner’s doping allegations had been a “cloud will observe him like that Covid cloud will observe me.” He mentioned he disagreed with the provisional three-month ban and mentioned it had lots to do together with his rating at No. 1. To Djokovic’s level, Sabalenka mentioned she desires “everybody need to be handled the identical” and introduced up an analogous case with Swiatek’s doping scenario.
Kyrgios continues to be bullish on his opinion of Sinner.
“The important thing factor Novak mentioned was whether or not it was there or wasn’t there, he is nonetheless accountable,” Kyrgios mentioned. “The way in which the case was dealt with as an entire … was very … It wasn’t a very good search for the game. He was our No. 1 tennis participant on the planet. The media in our sport on the time wasn’t good. I used to be accountable for that. We should always’ve have that forwards and backwards with gamers on-line. The individuals competing in opposition to him, why are we being withheld that info? We should always know precisely what is going on on. Why is the trial behind closed doorways?
“On the identical time, the best way Jannik bounced again from it’s wonderful. As a lot as me and Jannik Sinner have variations, the best way he took the ban and got here again and practically received Rome. He took his day off and he turned higher. There isn’t any doubt he will be one of many biggest gamers of all-time.”
Sinner reached the finals of the French Open within the epic five-setter once more Carlos Alcaraz and later received Wimbledon this 12 months following his momentary ban. He has 4 profession majors to his credit score, all coming for the reason that starting of the 2024 season.
