World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has received support from tennis legend Rafael Nadal amidst a doping controversy. Nadal expressed his belief that Sinner did not intentionally use a banned substance and that his acquittal was not influenced by his ranking.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of doping charges after he tested positive for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid in March. The ITIA determined that the positive test resulted from a massage by Sinner’s physiotherapist, deeming it unintentional.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, stated in an interview that he trusts the ITIA’s decision and does not believe Sinner intended to dope. “I don’t believe the sentence has anything to do with him being No. 1 in the world,” Nadal said.
Novak Djokovic, who missed the US Open due to his unvaccinated status, acknowledged that some players may perceive a double standard in tennis. However, Nadal maintained his faith in the ITIA’s decision-making process.
Meanwhile, Sinner advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open by defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets. He will face former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the semifinals. With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic eliminated from the tournament, the winner of the Sinner-Medvedev match could potentially emerge as the champion.
