Serena Williams says that if she had been accused of doping like Jannik Sinner, she would have been given 20 years and would have been taken away from the Grand Slams

Serena Williams continues to conquer achievements even though she hung up her racquet years ago.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner has been selected as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people once again. In an open dialogue with the magazine, a strong statement from the tennis player stole the show.

In her tennis career, she won seventy-three titles, 7 Olympic golds, and 39 Grand Slams: 23 singles, 14 in women’s doubles with Venus and 2 in mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi. Among other incredible feats. Because of all her experience, Serena was asked about Jannik Sinner‘s three-month suspension after testing positive in a drug test. The two met at the Miami Open in 2024, a tournament the Italian would go on to win.

After praising the reigning U.S. Open and Australian Open champion, Serena confessed:

I’ve been belittled so much that I don’t want to knock anyone down. Men’s tennis needs it, but if I tested positive in a doping control, I would have been sentenced to 20 years. To be honest, I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.

Jannik Sinner and the controversy over his sanction.

The tennis player is currently serving a three-month suspension and hopes to return to the courts on May 4 with his titles in hand. The punishment is due to the fact that he tested positive twice for the banned steroid clostebol in March last year.

Although for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) it had been accidental, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed and left the case in the hands of the Sports Anti-Doping Tribunal. After deliberation, they sanctioned with three months off the courts.

This fine is considered “scarce” for several fans, since if compared to the two years imposed on Maria Sharapova – later reduced to 15 months – for testing positive for meldonium, it is much less. In relation to this, Serena mentioned: “In a strange and curious way, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time. I can’t help but feel sorry for her.”

Serena and her new link to the WNBA

Even though she has retired, the sport is still present in her life, albeit in a different way. Williams continues to inspire and help athletes fulfill their dreams. She proved this when she became one of the owners of the Toronto Tempo team in March of this year.

This team is the newest team in the WNBA and is expected to take the court in 2026. However, with the league’s growing audience and Serena’s presence, the impact is expected to be even greater.