BRISBANE, Australia — On the eve of his return to the courtroom, Novak Djokovic has weighed in on tennis’s high-profile doping instances and criticized what he perceives as double requirements within the sport.
The previous world No. 1, who’s chasing a document twenty fifth Grand Slam title at subsequent month’s Australian Open, expressed his frustration Sunday at being “stored at the hours of darkness” concerning top-ranked Jannik Sinner’s doping case.
Djokovic is the highest seed within the Brisbane Worldwide this week, making his first look on the occasion since 2009. He will even workforce up with Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in doubles, with the duo headlining Monday’s motion.
Off the courtroom, Djokovic lent his voice Sunday to Kyrgios’s robust criticisms made a day earlier, talking out at size in regards to the ongoing doping case involving present world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
“I’m not questioning whether or not (Sinner) took the banned substance deliberately or not,” Djokovic mentioned at a press convention Sunday in Brisbane. “We’ve had loads of gamers previously and presently below suspension for not even testing optimistic to banned substances.
“Some gamers with decrease rankings ready for his or her case to be resolved for over a yr. I’ve been actually annoyed … to see we’ve been stored at the hours of darkness for a minimum of 5 months (on the Sinner case).”
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) charged each Sinner and former girls’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek with anti-doping breaches earlier within the yr.
Sinner examined optimistic twice for an anabolic steroid in March however averted a ban after the ITIA dominated he was not at fault. The World Anti-Doping Company has appealed the choice.
Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension in November after testing optimistic for the banned substance trimetazidine.
The Serbian additional criticized the dearth of transparency from tennis authorities concerning doping breaches.
“The ATP hasn’t actually talked in depth about it. Why have they stored that case away from the general public? We see Simona Halep’s case on the WTA Tour, now Iga Swiatek’s case,” Djokovic mentioned.
“It’s not a great picture for our sport. I’m simply questioning the best way the system works and why sure gamers aren’t handled the identical as others. Perhaps some rating causes are behind it, or some gamers have extra monetary backing and stronger authorized groups to deal with these instances.”
Regardless of his frustrations, Djokovic stays targeted on the season forward. After present process knee surgical procedure earlier this yr, he returned to succeed in the Wimbledon closing however skipped the end-of-year ATP Finals, the place Sinner capped a dominant season along with his eighth title.
Djokovic is trying to lengthen his legacy at Melbourne Park, the place he has claimed 10 Australian Open titles, and has introduced on former rival Andy Murray as his coach for the match.
“It’s unusual for me to share all these sorts of insights about how I really feel on the courtroom, a few of the secrets and techniques of what I’m going via, what I’m desirous about, how I see my recreation, with someone who has been certainly one of my high rivals,” Djokovic mentioned.
“However I’m so glad and really grateful that he has accepted to work with me, and in Australia … he’s very meticulous, devoted, {and professional}.”
