Tennis icon Serena Williams isn’t holding back when it comes to how differently she believes she would’ve been treated if she were in Jannik Sinner’s shoes.
In a candid interview, the 23-time Grand Slam champion opened up about the recent doping controversy involving the world No. 1 and made it clear—if the roles were reversed, she says she would’ve faced much harsher consequences.
Sinner’s Return After Doping Ban
Jannik Sinner is gearing up for his return at the Italian Open next month, following a three-month suspension for testing positive for the banned substance clostebol—not once, but twice.
According to doping officials, the clostebol was traced back to a spray used by his physiotherapist to treat a cut on his own finger.
Somehow, that substance allegedly made its way into Sinner’s system during a massage.
Initially, Sinner wasn’t banned at all. The Tennis Integrity Agency accepted his explanation, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stepped in and pushed for action.
Eventually, the case was settled in February with a three-month suspension—a punishment many feel was surprisingly lenient.
Serena Says Her Career Would’ve Been Destroyed
In her interview with Time Magazine, Williams didn’t shy away from how she feels the situation would’ve unfolded if it had happened to her.
“If I did that,” she said bluntly, “I would’ve gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would’ve had Grand Slams taken away from me.”
While she praised Sinner’s talent and called him “great for the sport,” Serena pointed out the glaring difference in treatment.
She joked that if she’d ever failed a doping test, the fallout wouldn’t just have been severe—it would’ve been the stuff of alternate universes.
“You would have heard about it in another multiverse,” she quipped.
A Nod to Sharapova’s Case
Serena also brought up her old rival, Maria Sharapova, whose own doping case made headlines in 2016.
Sharapova was suspended for testing positive for meldonium, a substance she claimed she didn’t know had recently been banned.
Her original two-year ban was eventually reduced to 15 months, but Williams admits the whole situation still lingers in her mind.
“Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time,” she said. “I can’t help but feel for her.”
Players Speak Out About Favoritism
It’s not just Serena questioning how the Sinner situation was handled. Novak Djokovic also weighed in, saying the reaction within the tennis community hasn’t exactly been positive.
“A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair,” Djokovic said. “A majority of the players feel like there is favoritism happening.
It seems like you can almost affect the outcome if you’re a top player and have access to the best lawyers.”
A Controversial Chapter in Tennis
As Jannik Sinner prepares to return to the court in front of a home crowd, the tennis world is still grappling with the fairness—or lack thereof—of his case.
Serena’s comments have added fuel to an already heated conversation, and they highlight a broader issue in professional sports: whether all players are truly being held to the same standard.