**Novak Djokovic Criticises Anti-Doping Process as He Prepares to Face Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon**
As the semi-finals at Wimbledon approach, all eyes are on the eagerly anticipated clash between Novak Djokovic, a venerable figure in the sport, and Jannik Sinner, the current world number one. Their meeting on Centre Court this Friday is not only a battle of generations but also comes slightly overshadowed by ongoing controversy following Sinner’s recent anti-doping case.
Djokovic, aged 38, continues to defy expectations in the twilight of his career, remaining a formidable presence on the grass courts of SW19. Although he now stands as the last remaining member of the once-dominant trio, which included Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic has not lost his competitive edge. Speaking to media earlier in the week, the Serb reflected on his longevity, stating, “It means the world to me that at 38 I’m still able to play the final stages of Wimbledon. I guess another thing that makes me feel young is competing with youngsters like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around court with him.” With a nod to his next opponent, Djokovic added with anticipation, “Speaking of young guys, I have Sinner in the next round so I’ll look forward to that.”
Jannik Sinner arrives at this semi-final fuelled by the prospect of securing his first ever Wimbledon crown. For the 22-year-old Italian, the chance to etch his name into tennis history provides ample inspiration. “Just trying to put myself in these positions, the semi-finals of Grand Slams, they’re amazing occasions, great chances,” Sinner remarked. “I’m happy that I’ve put myself here again in this position and to see what I can achieve. I haven’t won [at Wimbledon], so I want it even more… I always believe that you have one opponent at a time. Hopefully I can show some good tennis in the next round. If not, obviously it’s impossible that I win that match.”
However, despite the focus on on-court prowess, their showdown is ineluctably coloured by events off the court. It was only last year that Sinner faced suspension following two positive drug tests in March 2024. The Italian’s ban became the subject of much discussion, as he reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Sinner claimed the prohibited substance, clostebol, was found in his system as a result of inadvertent contamination by his physiotherapist. While WADA accepted his explanation, they noted, “the athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence.”
Reflecting on the ordeal in an interview with Sky Italy, Sinner noted: “In the end, you have to choose the lesser evil and I believe that is what I have done. Even if sometimes it seems a bit unfair, all that I’m living, but then if I look at things from a different perspective it could have been worse. Even more unfairness. This is the way it is.”
Djokovic, for his part, has not shied away from voicing his concerns about the handling of Sinner’s case, suggesting a lack of consistency in how anti-doping regulations are enforced. Speaking earlier at the Qatar Open, Djokovic claimed that many players share dissatisfaction at how swiftly Sinner’s case was resolved. “A majority of the players that I’ve talked to in the locker room, not just in the last few days, but also last few months, are not happy with the way this whole process has been handled,” Djokovic stated. He went on, “A majority of the players don’t feel it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”
Drawing attention to the disparity in sanctions across the sport, Djokovic referenced other athletes such as Simona Halep and Tara Moore, both of whom received more severe penalties and endured lengthy processes to resolve their cases. “There is so much inconsistency between the cases,” he said. Regarding Sinner, Djokovic acknowledged that “he has got a suspension for three months because of mistakes and negligence of his team members, who are working on the tour. This is also something that I personally and many other players find strange.”
The Serb’s remarks highlight a broader call for reform, as Djokovic concluded: “Now it’s a ripe time for us to really address the system, because the system and the structure obviously doesn’t work, anti-doping, it’s obvious. I hope that in the near future the governing bodies are going to come together and try to find a more effective way to deal with these processes. It’s inconsistent, and it appears to be very unfair.”
With these comments echoing around the tennis world, the semi-final duel between Djokovic and Sinner is set against a backdrop of both athletic ambition and administrative scrutiny. Irrespective of the outcome on court, the debate surrounding fairness and integrity in sport appears likely to continue well beyond Wimbledon’s conclusion.