Jannik Sinner is serving up history. The Italian World No. 1 successfully defended his Australian Open title on Sunday, becoming the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2006 to retain his maiden Grand Slam trophy. But his triumph comes with a cloud hanging over him—a doping investigation that could jeopardize his stellar season. Serena William’s ex-coach, however, finds the whole situation a complete ‘joke’. Find out what she has to say.!

The controversy stems from a positive test for clostebol, a banned substance, during the Indian Wells tournament in March 2024. Sinner claimed the positive test was unintentional, explaining that his physiotherapist had used a skin cream containing clostebol to treat a cut. He had declared that the substance was transferred to him during a massage.

An independent tribunal organized by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reviewed the case and sided with the 23-year-old tennis player. The tribunal found no fault or negligence on his part, allowing him to continue competing without suspension. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not accepted this verdict quietly. The organization has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing scheduled for April 16-17.

During a recent episode of ‘The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast’, the former Australian tennis star Rennae Stubbs didn’t hold back while discussing the Australian Open champion’s ongoing doping case with guest star Andrea Petkovic. Stubbs slammed the handling of the situation and said, “This WADA situation is such a joke. How can the ITIA say ‘no fault for you?’ And then WADA decides months later, you know what? That’s not quite satisfactory for us. We want him to pay for his team doing something stupid, but we’re going to wait till April. You’re f*cking kidding me.”

Serena William’s ex-coach further predicted the outcome, saying, “He’s played two grand slams and won them. And you think this is a good look, WADA? It’s anyway, that’s what we’re going to go on, and I guarantee you, look out. I think they’re going to ban him. It’s going to be a terrible look for tennis anyway.”

Despite the looming controversy, Jannik Sinner delivered a dominant performance at the Australian Open. He defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, to secure his third Grand Slam title. His win extended an impressive unbeaten streak to 21 matches, building on his success at the ATP Finals last season.

However, even in victory, the doping case overshadowed his achievements. Of the nine questions posed during his post-match press conference, three were related to the investigation. What did the World No.1 have to say?

Jannik Sinner opens up on playing amidst the doping controversy

Jannik Sinner did not shy away from addressing the situation. Speaking to the press, the Italian tennis player said, “I just came off an amazing run again here. I want to enjoy this moment, to be honest. Then it’s the hearing. We know now the dates, and that’s it. I mean, I want to enjoy this one now. I mean, what happened, happened, no? As I always say, I keep playing like this because I have a clear mind on what happened. If I know if I would be guilty, I would not play like this, and that’s it.”

Sinner’s immediate focus remains on his tennis, but the April hearing could significantly impact his career. If WADA’s appeal succeeds, the World No. 1 could face a ban of up to two years—a devastating blow for the young star.

Adding to the stakes, Sinner’s hearing comes just weeks before the French Open, a tournament where he has yet to taste victory. His best performance at Roland Garros came in 2024 when he reached the semi-finals. A suspension would sideline him from his pursuit of a career-defining title in Paris.

What do you think? Can Jannik Sinner overcome this hurdle and continue to cement his place in tennis history or will this controversy derail his trajectory?