“Grand Slams should have been taken away” – Serena Williams questions severity of Jannik Sinner ban

Tennis legend Serena Williams has voiced concerns over the perceived leniency of Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, suggesting that she would have faced a much harsher punishment under similar circumstances.

Sinner, the current ATP World No. 1, is serving a three-month suspension following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Italian had twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled in August 2024 that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence,” accepting his explanation that the contamination was unintentional and caused by a member of his team.

Although the ITIA initially opted not to suspend Sinner, WADA appealed the ruling. The case was set to go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport until a settlement was reached earlier this year, resulting in a three-month ban.

Despite the suspension, Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open and Australian Open titleholder, will retain his No. 1 ranking when he returns on May 4, 2025.

Williams, who met Sinner at the 2024 Miami Open, praised him as “great for the sport” in a recent TIME interview but also criticized the disparity in how cases are handled.

“Fantastic personality. I love the guy. I love this game. He’s great for the sport,” said Williams. “Men’s tennis needs him. [But] if I did that, I would’ve gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would’ve had Grand Slams taken away from me.”

Williams’ remarks highlight long-standing concerns about consistency in doping sanctions across genders and high-profile cases. The situation has drawn comparisons to the treatment of other players, including Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova received a two-year ban (later reduced to 15 months) after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. Despite her offense being ruled unintentional, many viewed her punishment as severe in contrast to Sinner’s outcome.

Williams acknowledged these comparisons, reflecting on her former rival’s ordeal.

“Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time—I can’t help but feel for her,” she added.

Now part of TIME100 for 2025, Williams continues to use her platform to raise critical questions about fairness and equality in professional tennis.