On Sunday, September 8, Jannik Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz in the US Open final to earn his second Grand Slam championship of 2024. When a doping scandal surrounded his triumph, some supporters of Novak Djokovic criticised what they perceived as unfair treatment, implying that the Serb would not have been given the same level of credit in a comparable circumstance.
For the first time in twenty-one years, Sinner ended American aspirations for a male Grand Slam champion in New York, defeating Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. Being the first Italian guy to win the New York Major, he also made history.
But shortly before the competition got underway, Sinner found himself in the centre of controversy as it was made known that he had tested positive twice for the drug Clostebol, which is prohibited, during the Indian Wells Masters in March.
The World No. 1 avoided suspension when the ITIA inquiry found that his former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, had inadvertently added the chemical to his system.
Fans of Djokovic have now gone to X to express their disapproval of what they see as “double standards” in Jannik Sinner’s victory, conjecturing about what may have happened if their hero had been in the similar circumstance. A fan stated:
Novak Djokovic would not be as popular as Jannik Sinner if he had won the US Open after testing positive for clostebol. His victory would be called into question and he would be demonised. unacceptable disparities in standards.”
“Turning the whole 2 failed doping tests to 2 time Grand Slam champ shtick into some kind of inspirational sob story is crazy work,” another wrote.
One account posted:
“If they would have found Novak Djokovic with a 1 billionth of a steroid particle in his blood everyone would have destroyed him. But Sinner is playing in a US Open final.”
“Weird that isn’t it… the chosen one will be protected at all costs,” one fan tweeted.
“It takes unique guts and super self-confidence to be as NOVAK,” another chimed in.
One account commented:
“Novak has to abide by a different set of rules.”
Novak Djokovic on Jannik Sinner’s doping saga: “I understand sentiments of players that are questioning”
At the 2024 US Open, Novak Djokovic was asked to comment on Jannik Sinner’s doping scandal during a pre-tournament press conference.
The Serbian highlighted the necessity of a “standardised” procedure in these situations, adding that he and Vasek Pospisil co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2019 in part due to inconsistent management practices.
“With regards to Jannik’s issue, as I mentioned earlier, these kinds of situations are the main reason we established PTPA, which is constantly pushing for just protocols, explicit protocols for standardised methods to these kinds of cases,” Djokovic remarked.
The 24 time Grand Slam victor also said:
“There are numerous problems with the system. We observe a dearth of well-defined, standardised protocols. I can sympathise with the feelings of many players who wonder if they receive the same treatment.”
Although Djokovic was the reigning champion at Flushing Meadows, Australian Alexei Popyrin unexpectedly ended his run in the third round.
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