Roger Federer also questions the handling of Jannik Sinner’s case as he gives his verdict on the Italian’s innocence

Roger Federer questioned the handling of Jannik Sinner’s doping case after he escaped a ban despite testing positive for a banned substance.

Roger Federer recently commented on the doping controversy involving Jannik Sinner, who tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned substance. Sinner avoided a ban, which sparked debate and criticism from several top players.

They accused the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of double standards in handling the case. Federer’s response was measured; he emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport while ensuring that rules are applied consistently and fairly to all players.

At the US Open, Roger Federer stated to Today.com that he believes Jannik Sinner did not knowingly consume the banned substance. According to Sinner, the positive test resulted from accidental contamination. His physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, used a spray containing clostebol on a cut, and then massaged Sinner’s hand without gloves, leading to the substance entering Sinner’s system. Federer’s comments reflect a stance of understanding, given the circumstances Sinner described.

I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100% sure what was going on, I think that’s the question that needs to be answered. It’s not something we want to see in our sport, these types of news, regardless if he did something or not, or any player did. It’s just noise that we don’t want.

Roger Federer said (via Today.com)

Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, has highlighted the immense difficulty of the situation for Sinner. Cahill noted that while Sinner has been dealing with the stress of a legal battle, he has continued to compete in tournaments. He also emphasized that Sinner’s team has access to legal and scientific expertise, a resource not available to many lower-ranked players who might face similar challenges.

I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered. But look, it is what it is, and we need to trust the process as well of anyone involved here.

Roger Federer added

The tennis community continues to grapple with the implications of Sinner’s case. The controversy has ignited discussions about fairness and the disparity in resources available to players at various levels of the sport. It has raised questions about how doping regulations are enforced and whether the current system adequately supports all players, regardless of their ranking.

How Frances Tiafoe overcame poverty, mockery & fights with his mother to make it big in tennis: The most inspiring story at US Open 2024

It’s really very emotional story of Frances Tiafoe who overcame poverty, mockery & fights with his mother to make it big in tennis: The most inspiring story at US Open 2024

On Friday, September 6, Frances Tiafoe will face the biggest match of his career—the semifinals of the 2024 US Open. In what will be his second career Grand Slam semifinal, Tiafoe will take on fellow American Taylor Fritz.

The last time Frances Tiafoe reached the US Open semifinals was in 2022, where he faced Carlos Alcaraz. Despite putting up a strong fight, Tiafoe couldn’t overcome the eventual champion. This year, however, his chances of reaching the final appear significantly brighter, and Tiafoe is well aware of the opportunity.

At the start of the US Open, few would have predicted the World No. 20 advancing to the semifinals, let alone the final.

His side of the draw featured Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and defending champion in New York. However, fortune favored Tiafoe as Djokovic was unexpectedly defeated in the third round by the relatively unknown Alexei Popyrin.

However, it would be a mistake to think that Frances Tiafoe has reached this point simply by luck. The 26-year-old has faced more than his share of hardships, fighting relentlessly to arrive where he is today.

The son of immigrants from Sierra Leone who fled the civil war, Tiafoe’s childhood was marked by poverty and skepticism from others. His father, Constant, worked as a janitor at a tennis center in Maryland, while his mother, Alpine, was employed as a nurse. Financial constraints made it nearly impossible for Tiafoe’s family to afford tennis equipment or enroll him in top-level coaching programs.

In a recent podcast interview with Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe shared that, as a junior, he often faced ridicule from others for wearing hand-me-down clothes and using second-hand rackets at tournaments.

Fortunately, his father, Constant, was always there to support him, encouraging him to persevere and pursue a career in tennis regardless of what others thought.

“There’s days where it got tough for me, my brother. We’re going to practice, and we’re wearing hand-me-down stuff or demo rackets, whatever you can play with. People are laughing at us, saying, ‘This guy thinks he can be a pro, or this guy is playing with holes in his shoes, whose shoes are those or Pikachu shirts and khaki shorts, and I’m playing tournaments, and they’re like, ‘That’s not even tournament equipment’ and I’m like, ‘This is all I got,'” Frances Tiafoe said.

“Yeah, my dad’s definitely one. My dad was always saying, ‘It’s not about where he starts but where you going.’ That sentence right there changed my life. He’s just so proud of me,” he added.

At the same time, his father’s job at the tennis center proved to be a silver lining. It provided Tiafoe with the opportunity to practice and hone his skills after hours, once everyone else had left for the day.

During the interview with Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe reflected on times when he and his twin brother, Franklin, were sent to spend time with their father while their mother worked the night shift. Tiafoe fondly remembered his father’s unwavering belief that things would eventually improve for their family.

“Two to three times a week, I’d get picked up from school, and my dad would be working. My brother and I would hit the ball against the wall, joke around, watch the coaches, and talk to the players. Then we’d find an empty court and try to imitate them — whiffing serves or whatever, but we were really trying,” Tiafoe recounted.

“Then my mom calls us, and she’s like, ‘I’m working overnight; you’re going to the tennis center.’ So we’re picking up trash, we’re lining the clay courts, we’re doing all this, and I always go to my dad, and I’m like, ‘Man, this is crazy.’ He’s like, ‘Look man, this is going to play out one day.’ We’re sitting in the golf cart while he’s sweeping the place, saying, ‘It is going to pan out one day,'” he added.

Frances Tiafoe has openly shared that his mother was not initially supportive of his pursuit of a professional tennis career. In a 2017 column for Players’ Tribune, Tiafoe revealed that he and his mother clashed over the issue for years, as she remained unconvinced of his decision, even after he began earning money from the sport. Instead, she envisioned a college education for him. Tiafoe holds no resentment toward his mother’s stance, acknowledging that her concerns were valid and that things could have indeed gone wrong under different circumstances, just as she had feared.

“My mom actively did not want me to play professionally. She and I fought about the decision for years, even after I turned pro and started making a little money — all she wanted for me and Franklin was for us to go to college, and I had earned my ticket anywhere I wanted to go,” Frances Tiafoe wrote.

“She had a hard time wrapping her head around that. On top of all of that, every kid I played with or against had more than me and would never have to worry about money or whether they’d be able to go to college. While turning pro had a lot of upside, for me, it could also have turned out to be a disaster,” he added.