World No. 1 Sinner Could Miss Wimbledon; Can it Change?
It looks like the World #1 might not be playing the sport when Wimbledon comes alive in 2025, as the Jannik Sinner doping case trial is set to complicate his road to dominance this season.
This wasn’t something that tennis fans worldwide were ready to hear, and it was definitely not what those looking to buy Wimbledon tickets were longing to hear.
Sinner’s Doping Hearing Coming Up
Jannik Sinner’s fate can be compared with that of a coin. Like every coin has two sides, Sinner has dealt with good and bad fortune simultaneously.
Ahead of the Australian Open, it was revealed that WADA’s appeal in the CAS for Sinner’s doping case has got an April hearing. Soon after, Sinner put his doping controversy behind him to lift the Australian Open trophy, his third Grand Slam title. However, as the doping controversy refuses to die, former American star Alexandra Stevenson dropped a major bombshell.
What’s Happening
The Italian star is facing doping charges after testing positive for Clostebol last year. However, the level of the contamination was negligible, and he came in contact with it through a spray applied by his physio.
As a result, the ITIA let Sinner off in this case, but WADA filed an appeal in the CAS and asked for a one—to two-year ban for him. Thus, Stevenson fears the worst is yet to come for Sinner.
During the Serving Aces podcast, she revealed, “Who knows what’s going to happen? Sinner might not be here for Wimbledon. Sinner might not be on the tour. We’ll find it out in April. April 16th and 17th in Switzerland is a WADA decision.”
However, the 1-2 year ban isn’t the only threat Sinner faces if he is found guilty of the charges levied. WADA has also appealed to the CAS for Sinner’s results after the Indian Wells Masters last year to be scrapped, meaning that he will be stripped of the US Open and this year’s Australian Open titles if he loses the appeal.
Nonetheless, Sinner continues to claim his innocence in this matter.
Jannik Sinner confident of a positive outcome
Amid his doping controversy, Sinner hasn’t let outside noise affect his court performances. He dominated his opponents en route to the victory in Melbourne.
After his Australian Open triumph, Sinner maintained his innocence in his doping controversy. During the post-match interview, He explained why he could deliver his best despite the doping clouds surrounding him.
He revealed, “I keep playing like this because I have a clear mind on what happened. If I knew I would be guilty, I would not play like this, and that’s it. I just came off an amazing run again here. I want to enjoy this moment. I still believe every time [the ruling] came out in a very positive way, and I still believe it’s going to be that case.
At the moment, I’m not thinking about this. Of course, you have your moments of certain days where you feel like I wish I would not have this problem. Conversely, I’m always looking forward to going on court.”
If the ruling doesn’t work in favour of the Italian, his career will come to a considerable halt, and it might look dreadful as he aims to dominate the tennis world.
Fans with Wimbledon tickets patiently wait for the decision.
Roger Federer’s Wimbledon Racket for Auction
Even in retirement, Roger Federer remains one of the most influential figures in tennis history—and now, fans can own a piece of his legendary career.
The eight-time Wimbledon champion is auctioning off a match-used racket from his 2004 title-winning run, a tournament that cemented his status as the dominant force in tennis. The priceless artefact is currently being sold through Prestige Memorabilia, and experts predict it could fetch upwards of $100,000.
Federer’s Wimbledon titles in 2003 and 2004 were the launching pad for his dominance over the sport, and 2004 was particularly historic.
He defended his first Grand Slam title, proving he was no one-hit wonder.
In what became the first of three Wimbledon finals between the two rivals, he defeated Andy Roddick in the final.
By the end of 2004, Federer had captured three major titles, solidifying his place as the undisputed world No. 1.
This makes the racket from that year’s Wimbledon final especially valuable—it symbolizes the moment Federer took full control of the tennis world.
A unique signature adds to the exclusivity
.Adding to the racket’s appeal is its personalized signature, dedicated to none other than longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her daughter, Bee Shaffer. Federer’s message reads:
“To Anna + Bee, Roger Federer.”
This connection to one of Federer’s most high-profile supporters further enhances the item’s historical and sentimental value.
The auction runs until February 9, and the current bid is $17,716, but that number is expected to skyrocket in the coming days.
Memorabilia experts estimate the final sale price could exceed $100,000, reflecting Federer’s enduring global appeal.
Despite Novak Djokovic surpassing most of Federer’s records, the Swiss icon remains tennis’ most beloved and culturally significant figure.
Djokovic may be chasing Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles, but Federer’s elegance, grace, and impact on the sport go far beyond statistics. He was the face of modern tennis, inspiring an entire generation of players and fans.
And that’s why collectors are willing to pay six figures for a piece of his history.
US Open Changes Schedule – Wimbledon Left Alone
What change has the US Open made that leaves Wimbledon on its own?
The US Open is set to follow in the footsteps of the Australian Open and French Open.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) confirmed via the US Open’s website that the tournament will now commence on Sunday from the 2025 event onwards.
This will be the first-weekend start of the US Open in the Open Era, which will run from August 24 to September 7.
The first round of the men’s and women’s tournaments will occur from Sunday to Tuesday, leaving space for an extra 70,000 fans to watch the action at Flushing Meadows.
The US Open said the change will allow “more fan access than ever to the main draw following three consecutive years of record-breaking attendance.”
While the schedule for 2025 is fixed, fans will wait for a change next year.
Wimbledon tickets will soon be available.
