Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam title of 2024 with a win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open final on Sunday, September 8.
His victory came amid a doping controversy, which prompted some Novak Djokovic fans to criticize what they saw as double standards, suggesting that the Serb would not have received the same level of praise if he had been in a similar situation.
Sinner defeated Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in New York, ending American hopes for a male Grand Slam champion for the first time in 21 years. He also made history as the first Italian man to win the New York Major.
However, Sinner was embroiled in controversy just before the tournament began when it became public knowledge that he had tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol twice during the Indian Wells Masters in March.
The ITIA investigation concluded that the substance had been unintentionally introduced into the World No. 1’s system by his former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, which led him to avoid suspension.
Djokovic fans have now taken to X to criticize what they perceive as “double standards” in Jannik Sinner’s win, speculating about the outcome if their idol had been in the same situation. One fan wrote:
During a pre-tournament press conference at the 2024 US Open, Novak Djokovic was asked to weigh in on Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy.
The Serb emphasized the need for a “standardized” process in such cases, noting that inconsistencies in how they are managed were one of the reasons he co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) with Vasek Pospisil in 2019.
Djokovic was the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, but his run surprisingly came to an end in the third round at the hands of Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.
