Jannik Sinner gets firm backing in 'messed up' doping row from Tamara Zidansek ahead of Australian Open 2025

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner received firm backing from Slovanien tennis sensation Tamara Zidansek on Thursday, January 9, amid the Indian Wells doping row. In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, she suggested the fuss was unwarranted, given the contamination didn't have any positive bearing on Sinner's performance.

Sinner failed two dope tests for Clostebol, a banned steroid, during the 2024 Indian Wells. Following this, he faced an investigation from the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which concluded "No Fault or Negligence" on the Italian's part and didn't impose any ban, docking the prize money he earned during the Indian Wells Open.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency challenged ITIA's verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking an ineligibility period of one to two years for the two-time Grand Slam champion. The trial is underway as Sinner gears up for the 2025 Australian Open.

Sportskeeda caught up with Tamara Zidansek at Melbourne Park after she qualified for the women's singles draw, defeating Carole Monnet at Court 15, and asked her to share her opinion on Jannik Sinner and the doping situation in tennis.

"Messed up, I mean, it is what it is," the Slovanien replied. "Every player is responsible for themselves but if we are talking about this small doses, Jannik Sinner had something like -- it got out that it wasn’t affecting his performance, you know, why should that then matter, but it is what it is. Rules are the rules and they know what they’re doing better than us."

In ITIA's probe, Sinner had claimed that clostebol entered his body through a spray that his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi was using to treat a wound.

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Jannik Sinner to start his Australian Open title defense against Nicolas Jarry; Tamara Zidansek takes on Anastasia Potapova in 1R

Jannik Sinner (Getty)

In the men's draw announcement on Thursday, it emerged that Jannik Sinner will start his Australian Open title defense against Chile's Nicolas Jarry. The Italian has played against Jarry twice, with their head-to-head tied at 1-1. In their most recent meeting at the China Open (Round of 32), the World No. 1 won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Tamara Zidansek, on the other hand, will take on Russia's Anastasia Potapova in the women's singles first round. She has faced Potapova thrice thus far, trailing 2-1 in the head-to-head. In their first meeting, she retired midway with the scoreline reading 3-6, 6-4, 5-2 in the Russian's favor.