World No. 1 Jannik Sinner recently addressed the reactions within the locker room following his exoneration after a failed drug test earlier this year. The Italian tennis star was cleared of any wrongdoing last week after testing positive for the banned substance clostebol in March. An investigation revealed that the substance had been introduced through contamination when Sinner’s physio used a wound-healing spray before massaging him without wearing gloves.
Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the ordeal, the incident has become a significant talking point as the US Open approaches. Sinner, however, managed to remain focused, securing a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Mackenzie McDonald in his first-round match on Arthur Ashe.
In the post-match press conference, Sinner was questioned about how his fellow players had reacted to the news of his cleared doping case. “Yeah, there are some reactions,” Sinner acknowledged. “You know, I cannot really control what they think and what they talk. You know, that’s how everything went and how it was, I already talked, no? I cannot control the players’ reaction, and if I have something to say to someone, I go there privately, because I’m this kind of person. But, look, overall, it has been not bad. So I’m happy about that.”
Daniil Medvedev, a key contender at the US Open and one of Sinner’s main rivals, also shared his thoughts on the situation after his own first-round win against Dusan Lajovic. Medvedev expressed a nuanced perspective, emphasizing the complexity of doping cases in professional sports.
“I think my perspective is a little bit — I think I saw Taylor [Fritz], and I really like what he said. He said, Look, it’s only him who knows what happened exactly, so we cannot know. Nobody can know like the exact truth except him, his team, and maybe the guys who, like, the independent tribunal,” Medvedev commented.
He added, “For me, the only thing where I’m a little bit, like, doping cases make me scared is imagine — so he knew what happened, and good for him, so he managed to defend himself. Imagine whatever tennis player in the top 100 gets an email, and they say, Look, there was cocaine in your blood. You come to them, and you say, Well, I never did anything in my life. I don’t know how did it get there. When you don’t know, you get suspended. That’s a little bit the tricky part, but that’s how, yeah, doping rules are.”
Medvedev concluded by stressing the importance of consistency in how such cases are handled: “It’s okay. You go with it. As I said, I just hope it’s the same treatment for every player.”
As the US Open continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and pressures athletes face, both on and off the court.
Sinner at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWLWWLW Currently the world no.1, Jannik has a compiled 49-5 win-loss record in 2024. Sinner is currently competing at the U.S. Open where he toppled the world no.140 Mackenzie Mcdonald 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2.
Jannik Sinner will square off with the world no.49 Alex Michelsen in the 2nd round. The head to head is 1-0 for Sinner.
The Italian clinched 5 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati.
Sinner won 16 titles in his career: 7 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner is scheduled to compete next in Beijing (China Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 23rd of September.
Medvedev at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
WLLLWWLWWW Ranked world no.5, Daniil has a 36-13 match record in 2024. The Russian is currently playing at the U.S. Open where he managed to beat the world no.66 Dusan Lajovic 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1.
Daniil Medvedev will face the world no.244 Diego Schwartzman in the Round Robin on Sunday at 4:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their actual head to head record is 6-0 for Medvedev.
Daniil was the finalist at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open).
Medvedev won 20 titles in his career: 10 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 30th of September and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev squared off 12 times. Their actual record is 7-5 for Medvedev. Before, the last time they played, Daniil Medvedev won 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 in the quarter in London (Wimbledon) on the 9th of July 2024.
Here the video highlights.
contrapared.
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev |
| Embed from Getty Images |
