23 Time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams claims she would have received a 20 year ban if she had failed a drugs test similar to that which ATP World No. 1 Jannik Sinner received just a three  month suspension in February 2025.

“I love the guy, love this game,” Williams, told Time magazine  after being named one of its 100 most influential people.

“He’s great for the sport. I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him.

“(But) if I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten grand slams taken away from me.”

43 year old Williams retired in 2022 and joked that she took extra precautions to avoid any accidental ingestion of an illegal substance, and that a PED scandal would have landed her “in jail.”

“I miss it a lot, with all my heart. I miss it because I’m healthy,” Williams said. “If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much.”

Sinner’s  suspension ends on May 4, having twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024 and is expected to make his return to the tour at the Italian Open, in the  ATP 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome beginning on May 5.

The Italian has always maintained his innocence, claiming the drug entered his system through a massage from his trainer.

Daniil Medvedev began the fight-back into his accustomed elite ATP status with a struggling 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 defeat of Karen Khachanov to begin play on Monday at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, finds himself ranked outside the top eight for the first time in six years after winning his last title in Rome two years ago and currently standing 11th in the world.

Since lifting the New York title four years ago, the 29-year-old has lost three Grand Slam finals.

But it took the ninth seed nearly three hours to overcome Khachanov, with the pair converting on a combined 17 of 26 break points in the struggle.

Medvedev led by double breaks in both the second and this sets, wrapping up the hard-fought win as his leg began to cramp two points from the finishing line.

Leading a set and 4-1, he might have thought the match was done.

“Clay is not my favourite surface, but I trained here better than I played today,” he said. “I’m happy to win,

“I’m happy with my level in general and I’m looking forward. A long preparation on clay helped me to play well today.”

Medvedev looked to have the opening set under control with a 5-1 lead. But that set still took nearly another hour to complete.

Longtime rival Khachanov squared the match at a set each before Medvedev limped home to victory.

Medvedev improved to 7-2 versus Khachanov in a reversal of the scoreline between the pair here in 2024.

Main photo:- Danill Medvedev struggles to first round victory in Monaco – by ATPTour.com

Jannik Sinner has broken his silence as the end of his three-month ban from tennis nears, with the world No. 1 admitting it will take “a little time to find myself again.”

The Italian gave his thoughts to SkySports Italia as he prepares to resume training in a few weeks with his ban for involuntary doping infractions ending on May 4, just a fortnight before the start of Roland Garros.

Sinner signed an agreement with anti-doping body WADA to serve time away from the sport which he dominated in 2024 after inadvertently ingesting a banned substance off the hands of his now-ex masseur last season.

The player called the entire episode “a little unfair” but accepted an ad-hoc sanction arrangement. 

“It could have been much worse. We accepted (the suspension) quickly, even if I did not really agree . 

“We had to choose the lesser of two evils and I think that’s what we did. What I’m going through is a little unfair, but if you look at it, it could have been much worse – it could have been even more unfair “

The 23-year-old added: “Once I made that decision, it took me a little time to find myself again. Other things happened, beyond this affair, which weren’t easy for me.

“It will take me a little more time to digest all of that, but I’m here. I can’t wait to make my return to Rome (Masters which begins a few days after his return).”

Sinner, a two-time Australian Open champion who also holds the US open crown. is unsure of his reception by peers when he comes back to the Tour in Rome.

“I don’t know what could happen .  I’m certain of how things happened – I’m innocent. 

“I want to play tennis and be very calm, that’s the end of it. I’m sure everything will be fine, even if it might take a while to get going again at first .”

Despite being out of action, Sinner has managed to maintain the top ATP ranking as rivals Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz continue to trail through poor results during their rival’s enforced absence.