"It's not my fault" - Jannik Sinner responds to 'unfair' treatment comments from Australian Open 1R opponent

Jannik Sinner’s 2025 Australian Open title defense got off to a solid start. While he faced stiff resistance from Nicolas Jarry in the opening round, the top seed was able to battle through 7-6(2), 7-6(5), 6-1.

Coming into the contest, Jarry said he had felt extra mental pressure given the difference, in which his and his opponent’s doping bans had been treated.

Sinner, when faced with a query about the comments, during his post-match press conference, dismissed the comparison, saying he would not like to comment on Jarry’s case as he was privy to the details.

The Italian said he believed that he and Jarry had been treated the same way and that protocol was followed. He did express sympathy for any players facing procedural trouble but has no control over it.

"Yeah, I'm very honest with you. I don't know the details of his case. For me, it's difficult to say whatever happened," Sinner said. "What I can say also passing also these kind of things, we got treated in the same way.

"There's the protocol," he continued. "If the protocol has some issues or problem, then it's not my fault, you know? Of course, I'm very sorry for the players who are passing these kind of things."

Notably, while Nicolas Jarry was handed an 11-month suspension after testing positive for Ligandrol and Stanozolol, Jannik Sinner had been let off with a points and prize money sanction after testing positive for Clostebol.

Both players had been found to have “bore no significant fault or negligence for the violation” in the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) report.

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"I was innocent" - Jannik Sinner defends himself on doping allegations

Jannik Sinner in action during his first-round encounter at the 2025 Australian Open. (Source: Getty)

Jannik Sinner reiterated his innocence on the doping front, saying he knows what happened to him and what he had to go through when the news of his failed sample first broke out.

The Italian recalled being judged but reminded his fans that the amount of Clostebol found in his system was “less than a billionth of a gram” and came through contamination. He said, as per the aforementioned source:

"But I don't know exactly the details about his case and my case. I know only what happened to me. I knew what I have to pass. It's basically still on mine. I have to do some stuff. At the end of the day I was always judged that I was innocent.

"The amount I had in my body is less than a billionth of a gram and it was contamination. I don't know exactly the details what he had," he added.

Having won his opener, Sinner now finds himself up against local favorite Tristan Schoolkate in the second round. The Aussie beat seasoned campaigner Taro Daniel in his opening match.