Iga Swiatek urged to ask Jannik Sinner for doping saga advice by former No 1
Iga Swiatek has been urged by former world No 1 Andy Roddick to turn to Jannik Sinner for advice amid the fallout from her failed drug test.
It was announced last month that Swiatek, the current WTA world No 2 and a five-time Grand Slam champion, had tested positive for banned steroid trimetazidine (TMZ) ahead of the Cincinnati Open.
The Pole was provisionally suspended between September 12 and October 4, before being handed an official one-month suspension in November.
Swiatek was found by the International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA) to be of “no significant fault” after accepting that her melatonin medication had accidentally been contaminated with TMZ.
Former world No 1 Swiatek has now served the entirety of her suspension and will be back in action at the United Cup, which starts on December 27.
The 23-year-old has spoken to the press since news of her doping violation emerged but, due to the timing of her suspension, she has not been asked about the controversy in a press conference.
This contrasts with Sinner, who was asked about his doping violation in his pre-US Open press conference – just days after news of his case emerged.
ATP world No 1 Sinner was found to be of “no fault” by the ITIA after twice testing positive for clostebol in March 2024, with the Italian also successfully claiming contamination.
Though he is facing a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal in his case, Sinner has widely been praised for how he has handled the controversy with the media.
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Speaking to Christian’s Court on YouTube, former US Open winner Roddick suggested that Swiatek could ask the Italian about handling ongoing media pressure.
He said: “If I am Iga I am probably calling him and saying: ‘Are there any hacks that have helped you deal with it the way you have? You have almost got better in the post-mortem of the announcement.’
“There will certainly be things to deal with, she is going to get asked about it every time. It will be as if whoever has asked the question hasn’t been able to read her responses before, they are going to make her say it again and again.
“If I’m in her corner I would just say don’t have a moment where you are exhausted by it, just be patient with the process and do what you have to do.
“The more emotion you show, the more likely it is to be a story over and over again.”
Swiatek was forced to miss the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open during her provisional suspension, which contributed to her fall from world No 1.
However, the 23-year-old is still among the WTA’s leading stars heading into 2025, with only chief rival Aryna Sabalenka ranked ahead of her.
Swiatek won five WTA titles in 2024 and will look to regain her world No 1 ranking and defend her French Open title next season.
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