“I feel sorry for him,” Casper Ruud comes out in full support for Jannik Sinner amid his three-month suspension controversy

Jannik Sinner's three-month suspension began on February 9 and will end on May 4, which will see him miss four Masters 1000 events.

“I feel sorry for him,” Casper Ruud comes out in full support for Jannik Sinner amid his three-month suspension controversy

Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud (Images via X)

Jannik Sinner has come under huge scrutiny since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that he will serve only a three-month suspension. The Italian star has been criticized by several current and former players because of his doping saga. However, World No.5 Casper Ruud has come out in full support of him.

Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol in March last year. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) made it public in August after they had concluded their investigations. The body revealed that Sinner was exonerated from all doping offenses after he defended that the banned substance inadvertently entered his system.

YouTube video

Nonetheless, WADA was not pleased with the verdict and they appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). They demanded the court give Sinner at least a one-year ban from the sport. But, surprisingly, a few weeks ago the anti-doping agency withdrew the case and agreed with Sinner for a three-month suspension settlement.

FS Video

Ever since then, the deal has been heavily criticized, with many players claiming favoritism played a role. But Casper Ruud came out in support of Sinner, saying that he feels sorry that he will not play in four of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments.

If I was in Jannik’s shoes, of course I would love to have the possibility to defend myself in an open trial, which I’m sure he was going for. But when you go trial, there’s always a risk that you might be found guilty, if the juries or the judges see things in a different way. I mean, look at how many cases in the world someone has gone to jail when he wasn’t guilty, or she wasn’t guilty. So, I mean, there’s always a risk that you might be found guilty even though you aren’t. So, a settlement of three months—or a suspension of three months—was something that both were happy to do. Still, I feel sorry for Jannik. He will be out, he will miss 4 out of 9 Masters 1000s for something he didn’t intentionally do.

Casper Ruud said via BenRothenberg.com

Ruud is currently participating in the Acapulco Open. He earned a first-round victory after beating French Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-3. He will face the winner between Aleksandar Vukic and Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez in the second round in Mexico.

Ben Shelton says the talk about Jannik Sinner’s settlement has to be over

Jannik Sinner began serving his three-month suspension from February 9 and it is going to end on May 4. The World No.1 is set to miss four of the nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, which include Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo, and Madrid Open. The Italian will be eligible to play at the Italian Open in Rome.

Jannik Sinner (5)
Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)

At the Acapulco Open, Ben Shelton was asked about the case, but the American didn’t have much to say about it. He revealed that the case is over and, he’s looking at playing, not talking about it anymore.

Settlement’s over. The case is over. I’m just glad that we can play now, move on. My thoughts are my thoughts, but I’m ready to start playing and stop talking about it. A lot of people want to talk, and I’m honestly just here to play.

Ben Shelton said via Tennis Gazette

Shelton earned himself a deserved first round win against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 7-6(4), 7-6(4) to reach the second round of the Acapulco Open. He will face David Goffin for a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament.