Superstar in the tennis scene: Jannik Sinner. © AFP / MARTIN KEEP

"Jannik Sinner? I love that boy, but..."

The Jannik Sinner case remains one of the biggest talking points in the sports world. Tennis queen Serena Williams is torn.

17 April 2025

From: det

Only the weather is currently keeping Jannik Sinner on tenterhooks. The Sextner has been allowed to train on official tennis courts since Sunday, but The rain in Monte Carlo is currently the spoilsport. Nevertheless, the world number one's period of suffering is coming to an end; in two and a half weeks he will have served his suspension and will finally be allowed to play tournaments again.

Although he has only played in one tournament this year – the Australian Open – Sinner is a constant topic in the sports world. And so, in an interview with The Times about the Sextner. The 43-year-old is a true icon in the tennis world, having won an incredible 23 Grand Slam titles.

Tennis queen Serena Williams. © AFP / JULIEN DE ROSA

And Williams quickly revealed herself as a big Sinner supporter. "I love this boy, I love his game. It's great for tennis to have someone like him." However, the tennis queen also expressed criticism regarding Sinner's doping case. The Sexten native tested positive for the banned substance clostebol due to contamination, and ultimately agreed to a three-month ban with the World Anti-Doping Agency in early February. This sparked much controversy.

“A doping scandal would have put me in prison.” Serena Williams

"I want to be clear: I bear no grudge against Sinner. I've been put down so many times, I don't want to bring anyone down. But," says Williams, "if something like that had happened to me, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest. I would have been stripped of Grand Slam titles."

The long-time world number one emphasizes that she has always been extremely cautious about what she takes. "A doping scandal would have landed me in jail. People would have heard about it in another multiverse," she says. Nevertheless, Serena Williams also declares: "I'm happy to see Sinner return to the court in Rome. Men's tennis needs him."