Many Believe There Was Favoritism

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow  | Monday, February 17, 2025

Photograph credit score: Richard Pelham/Getty

Novak Djokovic is singles Grand Slam king.

Many gamers see Jannik Sinner’s suspension as a positive signal there is a double normal in how tennis’ elite stars are handled in comparison with the remainder of the rank-and-file says 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

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Previous to launching his quest for a one hundredth profession singles crown, Djokovic met the media in Doha at present the place he was requested his response to Sinner accepting a three-month suspension to settle his doping case.

Former No. 1 Djokovic stated he personally finds the case “unusual” and shared different gamers imagine the world No. 1 was proven “favoritism” in that his suspension ends in Could.

The timing of the suspension means the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion is not going to miss a serious and may proceed his pursuit of the calendar Grand Slam.

“Jannik may have a three-month suspension resulting from some errors and negligence of some members of his crew, who’re engaged on the tour,” Djokovic informed the media in Doha. “That is additionally one thing that I personally and lots of different gamers discover unusual.

“I’ve spoken to a number of gamers within the locker room, not solely in the previous few days but in addition within the months earlier than.

“Most of them will not be happy with how the entire course of has gone and don’t assume it was truthful. Many imagine that there was favoritism.”

The ten-time Australian Open champion stated the case spotlights the very fact stars can afford authorized groups and doubtlessly a extra favorable end result.

“It looks like, it seems that you may nearly have an effect on the end result if you’re a high participant, when you have entry to the highest attorneys,” Djokovic informed the media in Doha.

Sinner is serving a three-month suspension that may ban him from tennis from February 9-Could 4th to settle the case, the World Anti-Doping Company introduced on Saturday.

WADA had appealed Sinner’s case to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport with the Italian Davis Cup hero going through the prospect of a one yr or extra suspension if the enchantment was profitable.

Final March, Sinner twice examined constructive for the banned steroid clostebol in “low ranges” the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company introduced in August days earlier than the beginning of the US Open.

Two-time Australian Open champion Sinner was not suspended and permitted to play as a result of an impartial tribunal dominated he was at “no fault” for the steroid contamination in his system. The three-month suspension means Sinner is not going to miss a serious as he chases the calendar Grand Slam.

“This case had been hanging over me now for almost a yr and the method nonetheless had a very long time to run with a choice perhaps solely on the finish of the yr,” Sinner stated in an announcement. “I’ve all the time accepted that I’m accountable for my crew and notice WADA’s strict guidelines are an vital safety for the game I really like.

“On that foundation I’ve accepted WADA’s provide to resolve these proceedings on the premise of a three-month sanction.”

The Serbian famous person says when gamers see Sinner hit with a three-month suspension, whereas former world No. 1 Simona Halep and Briton Tara Moore had been each hit with harsher sentences, they see a double normal within the system.

“Simona Halep and Tara Moore and another gamers which can be perhaps much less identified which were struggling to resolve their circumstances for years, or have gotten the ban for years,” Djokovic stated.