“Sick of this propaganda” – Jannik Sinner & Aryna Sabalenka fans furious at Cincinnati Open over controversial snubbing of defending champs
Fans of Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka expressed fury on X, with posts like @TennisFanatic88’s “Sick of this propaganda,” accusing the 2025 Cincinnati Open of deliberately snubbing the 2024 defending champions in its promotional materials, per @TennisFanatic88. The controversy erupted on June 15, 2025, when the tournament’s official X account hyped its upcoming event (August 10–17) without mentioning Sinner or Sabalenka, who won the men’s and women’s titles in 2024, defeating Frances Tiafoe (7-6(4), 6-2) and Jessica Pegula (6-3, 7-5), respectively, per The Guardian. Instead, the posts spotlighted players like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek, prompting accusations of bias.
Fan Reactions and Allegations
X users claimed the omission was intentional, with @SinnerSabFan writing, “Cincinnati Open erasing Sinner and Sabalenka like they didn’t dominate last year. Disrespectful,” per @SinnerSabFan. Some linked the snub to Sinner’s doping controversy, settled in February 2025 with a three-month ban (ending May 4) after testing positive for Clostebol in March 2024, per Sportskeeda. Others cited Sabalenka’s Belarusian nationality amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which bars her from competing under her flag, as a factor, per Footboom1. Fans argued the tournament favored “marketable” players from Western nations, with @TennisTruth21 posting, “Propaganda at its finest. Sinner and Sabalenka are No. 1s, but Alcaraz gets the spotlight?” per @TennisTruth21.
Tournament’s Perspective
The Cincinnati Open’s promotional strategy likely aimed to broaden appeal by featuring multiple top players, including Alcaraz (world No. 2) and Gauff (No. 2), who draw significant U.S. audiences, per ATP Tour. Sinner and Sabalenka, despite their 2024 triumphs and world No. 1 rankings, face public relations challenges—Sinner from the doping saga and Sabalenka from geopolitical tensions and past controversies, like her 2025 French Open remarks about Gauff, per Sportskeeda. The tournament’s X posts, analyzed via my tools, emphasized “star-studded lineups” without explicitly excluding the champions, suggesting a marketing oversight rather than a deliberate snub.
Context and Broader Implications
This isn’t the first time Sinner and Sabalenka have faced perceived slights. After their 2024 Australian Open wins, fans noted WTA players like Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff congratulating Sinner but not Sabalenka, sparking similar outrage, per Sportskeeda. Sabalenka’s 2024 Cincinnati prize money ($523,485) being half of Sinner’s ($1,049,460) also fueled debates about fairness, per Sportskeeda. As both prepare for Wimbledon 2025, their fans remain vigilant, with @ArynaArmy warning, “Keep snubbing them, they’ll just win again,” per @ArynaArmy.
