The aftermath of Jannik Sinner’s shock 3-month ban has offered a rare glimpse into the constant pressures faced by top athletes. Speaking from Dubai, shortly after the news reverberated through the tennis world, top seed Aryna Sabalenka articulated this shift in mindset: “You just start to be more careful. For example, before I wouldn’t care to leave my glass of water and go to the bathroom in a restaurant and now, I’m not going to drink from the same glass of water.” Now, Sabalenka’s vigilance is intensifying as she prepares for the Madrid Open.

To relate to Sabalenka’s statement, let’s recall recent doping sagas in the tennis world.

On August 12, Polish Iga Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication, because of a contaminated melatonin product regulated in Poland. Without a “Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)”, the ITIA provisionally suspended her on September 12. After tracing the contamination to the sleep aid, her team presented evidence to an independent tribunal, which confirmed the accidental exposure. The suspension was lifted on October 4, and Swiatek accepted a 1-month ban, completing her ineligibility period by December 4.

On the other hand, Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol, a banned steroid, during and after the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. The trace amounts were linked to unintentional contamination by a spray used by his physiotherapist, who applied it without gloves. An independent tribunal ruled Sinner bore no fault, clearing him initially. However, WADA appealed the decision, disagreeing with the “no fault” finding. In February 2025, Sinner accepted a 3-month ban in a settlement with WADA. 

Ahead of her Madrid Open run, Sabalenka elaborated on the proactive measures that she is taking to avoid a similar controversy. “I am much more cautious and aware of the dangers since the recent cases we all know about have emerged. I only drink and eat things that I have been able to control to the maximum and that my team provides me, and I am very careful about who I associate with, who I touch, and so on. Someone could have a cream with a banned substance and it could transfer to my body, so… Yes, it’s quite scary, but that’s how things are.”

“I mean, after the last cases, honestly, I became more over-protective with stuff I’m eating and drinking. Like, for example, even with the water, like I wouldn’t drink, like if I would leave the bottle of water open in the hotel or even here and left for few minutes and come back I would take the new bottle,” she added as reported by express.co.uk. 

“Honestly, it’s tricky, and I think everyone is aware of this stuff and everyone is trying to make sure that nothing is being touched and everything is clean and simple and, yeah, nothing can be in your food or in your drink Yeah, it’s quite scary, to be honest. I think the older you get, the more time you’re on tour, you’re getting over-protective with the stuff.”

In addition to discussing doping protocols, the top seed also offered her perspective on the difficulties of enhancing her play on clay courts at the Madrid tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka suggested to “have good tactical intelligence” for the clay court before the Madrid Open

The Belarusian top seed returns to Madrid with unfinished business and a hunger to reclaim her crown. After finishing in second place in Stuttgart, where she lost to Jelena Ostapenko, the top seed is now aiming for her third title at Caja Mágica. The Belarusian, who already holds Grand Slam titles from the 2024 US Open and two AO titles, is still chasing her first clay court title since her glorious 2023 run in the Spanish capital. 

Her last outing in Madrid ended in heartbreak: a thrilling, high-quality battle against Iga Swiatek where Sabalenka held 3 match points, only to see the title slip away. Determined not to let history repeat itself, Sabalenka is fine-tuning her tactics for success on the slow surface. She’s focusing on point construction, movement, and mental fortitude: three elements she believes are key to triumph on clay. 

“Playing on clay gives you extra time to hit. Historically, this has led to confusion for me; many ideas come to mind, and mistakes are made. You need to be physically prepared, but above all, have good tactical intelligence. I think this surface is the one that best allows improvement in all aspects of the game,” Sabalenka added in the pre-match press conference at Madrid.

With 5 finals under her belt in 2025, but just two titles, Aryna Sabalenka faces Madrid with redemption on her mind. Can the fiery World No. 1 channel past heartbreaks into glory and recreate her 2023 clay court triumph this time at red clay? What do you think?