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Topics: Roger Federer, US Open
Jonathan Bray
Roger Federer has had his say on Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, with the world No. 1 set to get his US Open title defence underway on Tuesday.
The Italian star accepted a three-month doping ban back in February after two positive tests for a prohibited substance in March 2024.
He has since returned to the court in style, falling to defeat in the French Open final before claiming his first Wimbledon crown with an impressive victory over bitter rival Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner will face Vit Kopriva in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday, having stormed to victory at the tournament 12 months ago.
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Sinner could become the first person to win the Grand Slam two years in a row since Federer claimed five successive titles between 2004 and 2008.
However, Federer revealed that Sinner’s ban was not something that he enjoys seeing in tennis when asked about the 24-year-old’s ban last year.
"It's not something we want to see in our sport,” Federer told NBC's Today show.
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“This type of news, regardless of whether he did something or not ... It's just noise that we don't want.
"I understand the frustration about has he been treated the same as others, and I think this is where it comes down to.
"I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn't do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he'd have to sit out while they were not 100% sure about what was going on, I think that's the question here that needs to be answered.
"But it is what it is. We have to trust the process as well of everyone involved."
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The Italian's fitness has been called into question ahead of the tournament after he withdrew from the Cincinnatti Open.
The final of this year’s men’s singles at the US Open is set to take place on Sunday, 7th September.
Sinner claimed his first US Open title 12 months ago by beating Taylor Fritz in straight sets.
Federer won the Grand Slam five times during his illustrious career, and had 20 major men's singles titles to his name by the time he retired in 2022.
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Sinner’s bitter rival Alcaraz will get his US Open campaign underway against Reilly Opelka on Tuesday.