World number one men’s tennis player Jannik Sinner, who will return from a three-month doping ban on Friday, has spoken about the lack of support from the tennis community during his tough time.

Sinner served a three-month doping ban from February 2025 after an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, where authorities accepted that the banned anabolic agent clostebol had entered his system via massages from his physiotherapist.

Sinner, who has won three Grand Slam titles so far, will make a return at the Italian Open, with an aim to prepare for the French Open that starts on 25 May.

Speaking at a press conference before the Italian Open, the 23-year-old revealed that the players he expected would stand by him did not send me messages after his ban, while “surprising” messages came from players who he did not expect to contact him.

“Tennis is an individual sport, everyone has their own team. In Monte Carlo I met Draper and Sonego, we had a great time.

At the beginning I had surprising messages from tennis players that I would not have expected to receive. And nothing from those who instead I expected to receive something,” Sinner said. “Names? I don’t want to name them. Everything will be fine, it will pass slowly”.

Sinner also said that he entered the Rome tournament with low expectations.

“It’s a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me, it’s talking also results wise,” Sinner told reporters. “What’s missing is the complete feedback of where my level is.

That’s going to come then slowly with the time of playing, after the first round match I’m going to have a good picture of myself — where I am at.”

Sinner continues to hold the top ranking in men’s tennis as Alexander Zverev suffered an early defeat in Monte-Carlo Masters.

The Italian also revealed that he didn’t want to accept a three-month ban, but he had to pick the best from the “very bad” options.

“For me personally good news that the Grand Slams were not included … This kind of agreement, I didn’t want to do it in the beginning.

It was not easy for me to accept it because I know what really happened, but sometimes we have to choose the best in a very bad moment,” Sinner said.

“It’s all over now, so I’m happy to play tennis again.”

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has opened up about her personal struggles and challenges as a mother and working woman, a year after confirming her divorce with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. In a recent interview, Sania shared her honest thoughts about parenting, career, and the unfair expectations society places on women.

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik were one of the most talked-about cross-border celebrity couples after they got married in 2010.

However, after years of speculation around their relationship, Sania confirmed their divorce in early 2024. The news came shortly after Shoaib Malik surprised fans by announcing his second marriage to Pakistani actress Sana Javed.

Speaking on Masoom Minawala podcast about how her life changed after becoming a mother, Sania said, “That’s why I said right at the beginning, it’s not an equal world.

Yes, both men and women are part of creating a child, but after that, men usually go back to work, take trips, and do what they want. Women do that too, but we also carry the extra responsibility of caregiving most of the time.”

She added that even in families where husbands are considered “hands-on,” the reality is often far from equal. “It’s still probably a 75–25 split, not 50–50. That’s just how things have been for generations. The woman is expected to take care of the house and family.”

“We want to work, travel, and achieve things that are outside the usual box. But people expect us to choose, either work or family. And I ask, if men don’t have to choose, then why should we?”

Sania also spoke about her motherhood journey, especially the early months after giving birth to her son Izhaan. She said breastfeeding was the hardest part for her. “I breastfed for 2.5 to 3 months.

For me, that was the toughest part of the pregnancy. I can be pregnant three more times, but this feeding part? I don’t know if I can do that again.”

She explained that it wasn’t about the physical pain, but the emotional and mental pressure. “As working women, it ties you down. The baby is completely dependent, and everything you do, sleep, travel, work, has to be planned around feeding.”

Sania also shared how difficult it was for her the first time she left her baby. “Izhaan was just six weeks old when I had to go to Delhi for an event.

I was so emotional and didn’t want to go. It was the hardest flight I’ve ever taken. We give ourselves mom guilt, but honestly, kids are fine. People do this all the time,” she recalled.

Daniil Medvedev has made an offer to Novak Djokovic to coach him and is even ready to pay him for that. Djokovic, however, has declined the offer.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic is currently going through one of his worst phases in his career. The 37-year-old has lost his last three matches on the trot and also pulled out of the Italian Open.

Djokovic will now play in the French Open without a single win on clay this year. The three-time Roland Garros winner is aiming to become the most successful tennis player across both genders. Currently, he is tied on 24 Slam wins with Margaret Court.

If Djokovic hangs up his boots anytime soon, the 29-year-old Russian tennis star Medvedev would be happy to “pay” him to become his coach. “I would pay for Novak to be my coach,” Medvedev told Serbian outlet Sportal.

However, the Russian feels Djokovic may not get into coaching immediately after retiring. “I don’t believe that Novak will be a coach right away, it is more realistic that he will give advice and share his experience with his friends who are closest to him on the Tour.

“Therefore, if there is such a possibility, I would also be happy to be in such a situation. Of course, that won’t happen while Djokovic is playing, because that would put him in the wrong position.

It would be embarrassing for him, but he certainly wouldn’t share his secrets. That’s why it will happen when he ends his career.”

Medvedev added that he feels Djokovic will coach Alexander Zverev after his retirement. “I heard in Australia that Sasha Zverev said that Novak promised him that he would work with him for a year when he finished his career,” Medvedev said.

Djokovic was asked about Medvedev’s offer at the Madrid Open but the Serbian said currently there’s “no price” that can get him into coaching.

“It’s very flattering that he thinks I can help him and be useful to his career. I really like Medvedev a lot, we always had a great relationship off the court,” Djokovic said.

“I am sure that because of my relationship with Daniil, I would always like to work with him if I could. As an advisor or mentor. One day I would consider becoming a member of their team.”

Djokovic continued: “First, I have to end my career in order to think about that offer, and I don’t know when that will happen yet. I said before, as long as I’m playing it’s early for that. That’s why there is no price.”