Remember how amazing Jannik Sinner was at the Australian Open? Defending his title like a champion? Well, things have gotten complicated. His doping case, which was supposed to go to a hearing in April, was just settled, and he’s been given a three-month suspension. Now, the tennis world is at war. Team Sinner vs. Team…well, everyone else, it seems. Nick Kyrgios, Stan Wawrinka, Daniil Medvedev are leading the charge against him, but Casper Ruud, Matteo Berrettini are right there in Sinner’s corner.

Sinner’s doping case began in March when he tested positive for clostebol, a banned substance. An independent panel had initially cleared him of any wrongdoing, ruling that the positive test was a result of accidental contamination. However, WADA was not convinced. It appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), pushing for a suspension of up to two years. On Saturday, WADA issued a statement explaining why it had settled on a three-month ban. The organization acknowledged that Sinner “did not intend to cheat” and that the substance “did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit.” Despite this, the ruling has sparked a fierce debate among players and fans alike.

One of the few apart from Casper Ruud and Richard Gasquet to come to Sinner’s defense was Matteo Berrettini. The two Italians were part of the team that won the Davis Cup last year, and Berrettini made it clear that he supports his teammate. Speaking to Il Corriere della Sera, he shared,

“I believe in sport. I don’t know what happened between the various organizations, I’m not a lawyer and it’s not my place. I’m only sorry for a guy like Sinner who, as the papers show, was the victim of a mistake. But Jannik is stronger than all of us… he’ll be back. I have always supported Sinner and believe that the positive tests were the result of a mistake. I can imagine that it is a difficult time for him. Have I written to him? No, I prefer to respect his desire for privacy.”

Not everyone has been as sympathetic. So what are the others saying?

Nick Kyrgios and Daniil Medvedev call out the settlement between Jannik Sinner and WADA

One of the biggest talking points has been the timing of Sinner’s suspension. The ban runs from February 9 to May 4, ruling him out of key hard-court events. He will miss Indian Wells and Miami, where he is the defending champion, as well as the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. However, he will be back at the Italian Open n May 7 to prepare for the French Open on May 25. The 23-year-old tennis star’s absence from the tour means he will drop 1,600 ranking points. However, his No.1 spot is still relatively secure unless Alexander Zverev or Carlos Alcaraz make deep runs in the upcoming tournaments.

Nick Kyrgios, one of the most outspoken players on the tour, immediately took to X to share, “So WADA come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously, Sinner’s team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a three-month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.”

Another tennis player to weigh in on the situation was World No.8 Daniil Medvedev. The former US Open champion believes the decision could change how future doping cases are handled. In a press conference, the Russian tennis star said,“I hope that the next few times, the players will be able to do that. I hope that it will create a precedent where everyone will have the opportunity to defend themselves better than before. Otherwise, if it’s not going to be possible, it’s going to be bizarre.”

The big question remains—does Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban seem fair, or does it raise more concerns about consistency in tennis rulings?