23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams revealed in a recent interview that the doping suspensions of several top tennis players, including Jannick Sinner, remind her of Maria Sharapova’s two-year ban in 2016. Despite their famous rivalry, Williams expressed compassion for the Russian star. “Strangely enough, I can’t help but think about Maria,” she said. “Given everything happening now, I truly feel for what she went through.”
Why was Maria Sharapova banned
Sharapova was suspended for two years after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance, at the Australian Open. Her case was one of the most talked-about controversies in tennis history. Now, with current stars like Simona Halep serving a four-year doping ban and Italian star Jannik Sinner recently facing a three-month suspension for a positive test, Williams is drawing comparisons.
Serena Williams’ take on Sinner’s case
“I was surprised,” she said of Sinner’s case. “I love the guy, I love his game. He’s great for the sport.”
Still, the tennis icon couldn’t ignore what she sees as a double standard in how such infractions are handled. “If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest,” she said. “I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me. You would have heard about it in another multiverse.”
