Sinner beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, to defend his Australian Open title, having beaten Daniil Medvedev in the final one year earlier.

The Italian dropped just two sets all tournament, as he breezed past the likes of Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton on his way to the title.

Sinner now leads world number two Zverev by over 3,500 points in the rankings, as he continues to dominate on tour.

However, while no player looks likely to stop him, his position atop the tennis world remains precarious.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the decision not to ban Sinner after he tested positive for Clostebol last year.

The Court Of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has scheduled a behind-closed-doors hearing on April 16, and 17, in Switzerland, where Sinner’s fate will be decided.

It is possible that the world number one could receive a ban of up to two years, although it is unknown how severe the punishment, if any, will be.

Ahead of the hearing, one former WTA star has given her thoughts on how the situation has been handled.

Rennae Stubbs ‘guarantees’ Jannik Sinner will be banned from tennis after WADA appeal

Speaking on her Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, former doubles number one Rennae Stubbs expressed her disappointment in how Sinner’s case has unfolded.

“This WADA situation is such a joke, I mean it’s such a joke,” she said.

“How can the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) 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 are going to wait until April, are you kidding me?

“He has played two Grand Slams, and won them.

“You think this is a good look WADA? You really think this is a good look?”

Sinner won the US Open last September, and the Australian Open earlier this month, after news of his doping violation broke in August 2024.

Stubbs went on to give her prediction as to whether Sinner will receive a ban from the sport.

“I guarantee you, look out, I think they are going to ban him,” she said.

“It’s going to be a terrible look for tennis.”

Will Jannik Sinner be stripped of his Grand Slam titles if he receives a ban?

Having won two Major titles since news broke of his doping violation last fall, many are rightfully questioning whether Sinner will be stripped of his Grand Slam wins should he receive a ban.

However, WADA themselves said they were ‘not seeking a disqualification of any results’ in a statement released last year.

Therefore, the biggest problem Sinner faces is a potential ban, which could last for up to two years.

But how would that compare to the longest doping bans we’ve seen in the history of the sport?

Players have served suspensions from six weeks up to a year since the International Tennis Federation (ITF) became the sole governing body for tennis anti-doping initiatives in 2007.

The Italian will no doubt hope that if he receives a suspension, it won’t see him out of action for too long.

Jannik Sinner said he was ‘not thinking’ about CAS hearing after winning the Australian Open

During his post-tournament press conference, Sinner was asked if the upcoming CAS hearing gave him any extra motivation in Melbourne.

“Not really, I mean, what happened, happened, no?” he said.

“As I always say, I keep playing like this because I have a clear mind on what happened, if I knew if I would be guilty, I would not play like this, and that’s it.

“I mean, I still believe every time it came out in a very positive way, and I still believe it’s going to be that case.

“At the moment I’m not thinking about this, of course, you have your moments of certain days where you feel like I wish I would not have this problem.

“In the other way, I’m always looking forward to go on court, trying to understand.”

Sinner will now await the verdict of his hearing on April 16, and 17, knowing that a ban will likely see him miss the next two Grand Slam tournaments, at the French Open and Wimbledon.

The French Open will begin on May 25, before Wimbledon gets underway on June 30.

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