Why Jannik Sinner's doping ban is making Serena Williams feel sorry for Maria Sharapova

23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams revealed in a recent interview that the doping suspensions of several top tennis players, including Jannick Sinner, remind her of Maria Sharapova’s two-year ban in 2016. Despite their famous rivalry, Williams expressed compassion for the Russian star. “Strangely enough, I can’t help but think about Maria,” she said. “Given everything happening now, I truly feel for what she went through.”
Why was Maria Sharapova banned
Sharapova was suspended for two years after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance, at the Australian Open. Her case was one of the most talked-about controversies in tennis history. Now, with current stars like Simona Halep serving a four-year doping ban and Italian star Jannik Sinner recently facing a three-month suspension for a positive test, Williams is drawing comparisons.

“I was surprised,” she said of Sinner’s case. “I love the guy, I love his game. He’s great for the sport.”
Still, the tennis icon couldn’t ignore what she sees as a double standard in how such infractions are handled. “If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let's be honest,” she said. “I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me. You would have heard about it in another multiverse.”

Despite stepping away from professional tennis, Williams remains a central figure in the sports and business worlds. She’s now focused on raising her two daughters, Olympia and Adira, alongside her husband Alexis Ohanian, and growing her investment firm, Serena Ventures, which backs female-led startups.
While Williams says she still misses tennis “like crazy,” she’s not slowing down in retirement. With a new fitness goal and her continued advocacy for women in business, the former world No. 1 is proving that life after tennis can be just as powerful — and impactful.