“It was very tough mentally,” that’s what Jannik Sinner said after his victory at the Cincinnati Masters. Although the young Italian had a commendable week, he still had to go through a stressful mental toll. A huge share of it was occupied by the ongoing controversy surrounding his dope test that gave out a concerning positive test for a banned substance. However, after an appeal, the authorities have finally dropped a positive update to which, Chris Evert reacted.

Tennis legend Chris Evert was stunned by the news about Jannik Sinner’s recent doping test controversy. She shared her initial thoughts on ESPN’s latest discussions, saying, “Well, first of all, I’ve just been thrown into this saga. I just arrived on the set and I’m listening to this, and I’m like whoa, Jannik Sinner is like the last person you think. But we said that about Simona Halep too and Maria Sharapova.” Evert expressed disbelief over the situation as she acknowledged that Sinner didn’t seem like someone who would get caught in such an issue.

The former WTA pro also dropped a reply against Nick Kyrgios’ urge to get Sinner out for two years. “I don’t think he should be banned for two years,” Evert added. She mentioned that what happened seemed like a “freak thing,” explaining how Sinner’s physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, accidentally contaminated him with a banned substance. Naldi used an over-the-counter spray on his own cut before treating Sinner’s blisters and welts. “When he’s tested, it’s going to come out positive,” Evert explained.

The incident began in March during the Indian Wells tournament where Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol which comes under the category of banned steroids that can build muscle mass. A second test eight days later also returned a positive result. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) immediately imposed a provisional suspension which the Italian later challenged. This eventually allowed him to continue playing.

The ITIA later discovered that the substance entered Sinner’s system unknowingly. The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation and cleared him of any intentional wrongdoing or negligence. However, Sinner lost the ranking points and prize money he earned from his semi-final run at Indian Wells. “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme,” the young Italian stated, after the ruling.

The incident highlighted how even unintentional actions can have severe consequences in the world of tennis. While Evert took a firm stand for Sinner’s dignity, there were others who appeared to be unhappy with the decision.

Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov despise Jannik Sinner’s clean chit

While the ruling of the independent tribunal came as a relief for the Cincinnati Open champion, it seemed like not many were satisfied with the fact that he was cleared of all allegations. Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov recently stepped forward to present strong criticism over the decision to clear World No.1 Jannik Sinner of any wrongdoing in his recent doping case.

Known for speaking his mind, Kyrgios expressed his frustration, saying, “Ridiculous—whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream… Yeah nice.”

Shapovalov, on the other side, also voiced his concerns by sympathizing with other players who had faced bans for similar issues. “Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now,” he wrote. Both players felt that Sinner should have faced a tougher punishment, stressing the fact that the anti-doping rules should apply equally to everyone.

Sinner wouldn’t want to pay too much attention to the criticism though and will be focusing on the upcoming hard-court major. Do you think the Italian can win the upcoming US Open? Let us know in the comments below.