"If Novak Djokovic won US Open after testing positive for Clostebol, he wouldn't be celebrated like Jannik Sinner" - Serb's fans slam Italian's win
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:
"If Novak Djokovic won the US Open after testing positive for Clostebol, he would not be celebrated like Jannik Sinner is. He would be vilified and the legitimacy of his win would be in question. Shameful double standards."
"Turning the whole 2 failed doping tests to 2 time Grand Slam champ shtick into some kind of inspirational sob story is crazy work," another wrote.
One account posted:
"If they would have found Novak Djokovic with a 1 billionth of a steroid particle in his blood everyone would have destroyed him. But Sinner is playing in a US Open final."
"Weird that isn't it... the chosen one will be protected at all costs," one fan tweeted.
"It takes unique guts and super self-confidence to be as NOVAK," another chimed in.
One account commented:
"Novak has to abide by a different set of rules."
Novak Djokovic on Jannik Sinner's doping saga: "I understand sentiments of players that are questioning"
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.
"As far as Jannik's case, you know, as I said, these kind of instances are the very reason that why we founded PTPA that is always advocating for fair protocols, clear protocols for standardized approaches to these kind of cases," Djokovic said.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion added:
"There is a lot of issues in the system. We see lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same."
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.