Roger Federer Back at US Open as a Fan After Speaking About Sinner’s ‘Tricky’ Doping Case 

Roger Federer waves to the crowd during a break in the action between Qinwen Zhang of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2024. (EPA)
Roger Federer waves to the crowd during a break in the action between Qinwen Zhang of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2024. (EPA)
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Roger Federer Back at US Open as a Fan After Speaking About Sinner’s ‘Tricky’ Doping Case 

Roger Federer waves to the crowd during a break in the action between Qinwen Zhang of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2024. (EPA)
Roger Federer waves to the crowd during a break in the action between Qinwen Zhang of China and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 03 September 2024. (EPA)

Roger Federer thinks Jannik Sinner's doping case raises questions about whether the current No. 1-ranked tennis player should have been allowed to continue competing until he was absolved of intentionally using an anabolic steroid he tested positive for twice in March.

“It’s not something we want to see in our sport, these types of news, regardless if he did something or not. Or any player did. It’s just noise that we don’t want. I understand the frustration of: Has he been treated the same as others? And I think this is where it comes down to. We all trust pretty much at the end, he didn’t do anything,” Federer said Tuesday in an appearance on the “Today” show to promote a book of photos of him.

“But the inconsistency, potentially, that he didn’t have to sit out while they were not 100 percent sure what was going on — I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered.”

Hours later Tuesday night, Federer received a warm ovation from spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium when he was introduced to the crowd during the second set of the US Open quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen.

Federer smiled and waved as he was shown on the videoboards in the arena.

It was the 20-time Grand Slam champion's first visit to the venue since he stopped competing. Federer announced his retirement in 2022; he played his last official match at Wimbledon the year before.

He is the last man to win consecutive titles at the US Open, collecting five in a row from 2004 to 2008.

Several top players have been asked about Sinner, who is scheduled to face 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the Grand Slam tournament's quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal told a Spanish television show on Monday he doesn't think Sinner received preferential treatment.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency said on Aug. 20 that it was determined that the banned performance-enhancer inadvertently entered Sinner’s system through a massage from his physiotherapist, and that is why the player was not suspended.

Asked about the matter in New York before the US Open began, Novak Djokovic said he gets why some tennis players question whether there’s a double standard in the sport.

“It’s a tricky situation and it’s the nightmare of every athlete and team, to have these allegations and these problems,” Federer said, adding: “We need to trust the process as well of everyone involved.”

Federer said he spoke recently with Nadal, his longtime on-court rival and off-court friend, who is 38 and has played sparingly the last two seasons because of injuries, including a hip operation last year. He is sitting out the US Open.

There are questions about whether Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam trophies, will return to the tour.

“He can do whatever he wants,” Federer said. “He's been one of the most iconic tennis players we've ever had in our sport. ... I just hope he can go out on his terms and the way he wants to.”



Jannik Sinner Beats Ben Shelton to Return to the Australian Open Final

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
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Jannik Sinner Beats Ben Shelton to Return to the Australian Open Final

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Ben Shelton of the US. (Reuters)

Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame some third-set cramping and beat Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to return to the Australian Open final as he seeks a third Grand Slam title.

The No. 1-ranked Sinner, a 23-year-old from Italy, fell behind in the opening set and twice was a point from losing it when Shelton served at 6-5. But Sinner broke there, then dominated the ensuing tiebreaker, and broke again to begin the second set.

“It was a very tough first set, but a very crucial one,” said Sinner, who ran his winning streak to 20 matches dating to late last season.

He said the matchup against the 21st-seeded Shelton, an American appearing in his second major semifinal and first at Melbourne Park, was filled with “a lot of tension.”

“I'm very happy with how I handled the situation today,” Sinner said.

The only trouble he ran into in the last two sets of the 2 1/2-hour contest in Rod Laver Arena was when he clutched at his left hamstring, and then his right thigh, in the third. He was treated by a trainer, who massaged both of Sinner's legs during changeovers.

Sinner is now the youngest man since Jim Courier in 1992-93 to reach consecutive finals at the Australian Open. It was Courier who conducted the post-match interview with Sinner on Friday.

Sinner won his first major title at Melbourne Park a year ago, then grabbed No. 2 at the US Open in September, shortly after being exonerated in a doping case that is still under appeal. There is a hearing scheduled for April.

On Sunday, Sinner will try to add to his trophy haul when he faces No. 2 Alexander Zverev for the championship.

Zverev advanced to his third major final — he is 0-2, with both losses in five sets — when Novak Djokovic quit after one set of their semifinal Friday because of a leg injury.

“Everything can happen. He's an incredible player,” Sinner said about Zverev. “He's looking for his first major. There's going to be, again, a lot of tension.”