Tennis News Today: Jannik Sinner says doping controversy helped him identify fake friends; Coco Gauff delighted as brother Codey makes big commitment
Jannik Sinner shared that his doping controversy revealed who his true friends were, helping him see who genuinely supported him. Coco Gauff expressed her excitement as her brother Codey committed to playing baseball at the University of Missouri.
Maria Sharapova’s fiance, Alexander Gilkes, showed his support for her following her induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Open, Zheng Qinwen and her second-round opponent Moyuka Uchijima shared a hilarious moment during their match.
On that note, here's a quick recap of the day's biggest headlines:
Jannik Sinner says doping saga changed his perspective on people
Jannik Sinner faced an investigation after twice testing positive for Clostebol, a banned substance, in March this year. An Independent Tribunal ruled in his favor, determining that he was not at fault due to unintentional exposure.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed this decision last month, requesting a ban of one to two years. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to review the case, but a hearing date has not been announced.
Reflecting on his experience when he first learned about the incident, the Italian admitted it wasn’t easy for him. However, he saw it as a life lesson, one that revealed who his real friends were and who was only pretending.
"I am convinced that nothing happens by chance , and perhaps this chance was precisely to understand who is your friend and who is not. And I separated these two matters," the World No. 1 told Sky Sports.
"I understood that there are many players who I didn't think were my friends, and there is a fairly large number who I thought were friends and instead they are not. And in the end I don't say that this did me any good, but it made me understand a lot of things," he added.
Coco Gauff swells in pride as bother Codey commits to University of Missouri's baseball team
While Coco Gauff has made a name for herself as one of the top women's tennis players globally, her younger brother Codey is focused on baseball. Recently, the 17-year-old made significant progress in his career by committing to the Missouri Tigers, the University of Missouri's official baseball team.
Codey took to Instagram to share the news, writing:
"I am super excited to announce that I will be committing to Mizzou University. First, I want to thank God without him none of this would be possible, I would also like to thank my family, coaches and close friends that have pushed me along the way. I want to thank the mizzou coaching staff for believing in me."
Gauff later took to the same social media platform to express her pride in her brother, writing:
"So proud of you Codey! Beyond happy for you!"
"Sorry for the spam... I'm just so happy for him. My lil bro is growing up @codeygauff lfggggg," the 2023 US Open champion added in her stories.
Maria Sharapova's fiance Alexander Gilkes reacts to Russian's International Tennis Hall of Fame induction
Maria Sharapova and American twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, have been chosen for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. The induction ceremony is set for August 23 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, where these tennis legends will be formally recognized for their outstanding careers.
Sharapova expressed her excitement about the news by taking to her X (formerly Twitter) account, where she shared her gratitude for receiving the honor and thanked her fans for their support in voting for her.
"Incredibly grateful to receive this honor. A big thank you to The Hall of Fame, and to all the voters. Most importantly, this recognition is such a beautiful reminder of the deep appreciation I have for my fans. Each one of you made me reach for the stars and look at what we have achieved together. Thank you," she wrote.
Later, the five-time Grand Slam champion's fiance, Alexander Gilkes, shared his reaction on Instagram stories, writing:
"Well done @mariasharapova. So well deserved."
Zheng Qinwen's Tokyo Open opponent Moyuka Uchijima hilariously reminds the former to take tag off her clothes
Zheng Qinwen has been having a great year and is currently competing at the Tokyo Open, where she has reached the third round after beating Moyuka Uchijima in her opener.
During the match, while they were posing for a pre-match photo together at the net, Uchijima playfully pointed out to Zheng that she had forgotten to remove the tag from her outfit, leaving her in stitches.
Watch the video below:
The Chinese will face Leylah Fernandez next, with whom she was involved in a controversy in Wuhan earlier this month.