ROME, Italy—Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka used her post-match press conference at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to address what she described as systemic inconsistencies in tennis’s anti-doping regime. Speaking after a straight-sets victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio, the former world No. 1 and WTA Player Council stalwart critiqued the sport’s reliance on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework—and signaled her willingness to consider radical reforms, including withdrawing tennis from the Olympic movement if it meant achieving more agile, tennis-specific protocols.
“I really like Jannik [Sinner], personally, and he’s always been very sweet to me,” Azarenka said of the Italian world No. 1 returning from a three-month suspension for Clostebol. “But in terms of professional matters, I don’t believe all players are treated the same. It’s not only his case. We need to ask: are the rules applied uniformly? What modifications make sense? That’s the conversation we should be having.”
The Jannik Sinner Case: A Catalyst for Debate
At the centre of Azarenka’s critique was the recent anti-doping saga involving Jannik Sinner. The ATP leader successfully overturned an initial provisional suspension imposed by the International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA)—a ruling later appealed by WADA—resulting in Sinner serving his ban between the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Secrecy shrouded much of the process; players and fans remained unaware of Sinner’s positive test until after his challenge, sparking concerns over opaque procedures.
“If you talk about Jannik Sinner’s case, people will ask why nobody knew,” Azarenka explained. “Well, there’s a legal aspect to it; I understand that. But it’s a little bit on the edge.” Her comments underscored frustration that legal maneuvering and bureaucratic safeguards can obscure the very integrity the system is meant to uphold.
WADA’s One-Size-Fits-All Model Under Scrutiny
Azarenka argued that tennis’s inclusion under WADA’s broad umbrella impedes the ITIA’s ability to tailor rules to the sport’s unique demands. “We’re often asked, ‘How do you feel about the system?’ How I feel about it doesn’t really matter,” she stressed. “It’s more about rule application: same for everyone, with sensible modifications. Otherwise, we’d have to take ourselves out of the Olympic pool—which I don’t necessarily think is a bad idea.”
Under current arrangements, WADA’s convening windows for rule changes—and its overarching governance—mean that tennis lags behind when rapid adaptation is required. For a sport with year-round global tournaments, an inflexible regime risks undermining player confidence and fan engagement alike.
Calls for Greater Transparency and Integrity
As a member of the ITIA’s player committee, Azarenka praised the organization’s educational workshops conducted at tour events. Yet she urged a shift away from bureaucratic opacity toward open governance. “I think overall there has to be better integrity from the organization,” she said. “It’s a big problem that we’re under WADA, and WADA only has specific windows to amend rules.”
By spotlighting the procedural discrepancies—where some athletes face prolonged public scrutiny while others navigate legal reversals behind closed doors—Azarenka is calling for an anti-doping model that balances due process with public accountability.
Expanding the Dialogue: Beyond Doping to Player Welfare
Azarenka’s 15-minute media appearance at Rome also canvassed broader areas for reform, drawing on her dual perspective as a veteran tour professional and a mother to eight-year-old Leo. She proposed a holisitic approach encompassing scheduling predictability, marketing initiatives, and equipment standardization to safeguard player longevity.
“My concern is less for me and more for younger players,” she said, “because it’s going to be a lot harder for them to have careers as long as I’ve had—20-plus years on tour.”
Her recommendations included reducing the density of two-week Masters 1000 events and reconsidering mandatory best-of-five-set finals at certain tournaments. She also suggested re-evaluating ball compositions and court surfaces, which have evolved over her two decades in the professional game. “When it comes to scheduling, we need more predictability—to sell product, for players to prepare, for fans to watch and for business to distribute,” she added.
A Player-Led Vision for Tennis’s Future
Azarenka’s remarks reflect a growing chorus of players seeking a seat at the policy table. As tournament calendars expand and prize-money demands intensify, many athletes feel sidelined from strategic decision-making. By leveraging her standing on the Player Council, Azarenka is amplifying calls for player-driven governance—particularly on issues that directly affect matchplay conditions, career sustainability and earning potential.
Tennis’s stakeholders have begun to take notice. WTA chief Steve Simon, while reaffirming WADA’s legitimacy, acknowledged the need for continued dialogue on anti-doping adaptations. The ATP has similarly reopened discussions on tournament density and ranking-point allocations, suggesting a willingness to explore player-friendly revisions.
Industry Reactions and Expert Analysis
Ian Thornton, a sports governance analyst at the University of London, observed that Azarenka’s proposals carry weight due to her reputation for candour and consistency. “Her willingness to publicly challenge WADA’s framework—and even contemplate Olympic withdrawal—underscores the urgency felt by many players,” Thornton said. “If tennis is to retain its elite talent and continue growing its fanbase, administrators must heed these concerns.”
Legal scholar Dr. Elena Martínez noted that anti-doping jurisprudence will likely face increased scrutiny as sports transition to more player-centric models. “The Sinner case exemplifies how legal appeals can create uneven timelines for justice,” she explained. “Balancing the rights of the athlete with transparency for the public is a delicate task that demands procedural reform.”
Implications for Young and Emerging Players
Central to Azarenka’s vision was a focus on safeguarding the next generation. With wildcard entries, lower-tier events and protective ranking systems under constant review, young players often navigate precarious career starts—compounded by grueling travel, inconsistent playing conditions and the looming specter of anti-doping investigations.
“I just want to see our sport grow,” Azarenka concluded. “This sport has given me so much in my life, and I want it to keep being a dominant sport for women. There are a lot of sports coming up and giving us competition. We need to keep making those strides forward.”
Her emphasis on career sustainability dovetails with recent WTA initiatives to increase prize-money equality and support mental-health resources—but Azarenka argues that the conversation must extend to day-to-day conditions on tour.
Charting a Path Forward
As Roland Garros approaches, the tennis world will be watching whether Azarenka’s Rome intervention sparks concrete policy debates. Potential reforms include:
- Establishing a tennis-specific anti-doping committee with expedited rule-revision authority.
- Implementing real-time public disclosures of provisional findings, with due safeguards for athlete confidentiality.
- Restructuring tournament calendars to balance marquee events with athlete rest periods.
- Standardizing equipment and surfaces to reduce injury risks and performance disparities.
The ITIA and international federations have yet to announce substantive follow-ups, but the timing of Azarenka’s comments—at one of clay-court season’s showpiece events—suggests she intends to sustain the momentum. With fans, sponsors and broadcasters keen for a stable, high-quality product, stakeholders may feel compelled to incorporate the voices of leading players.
Conclusion
Victoria Azarenka’s impassioned plea for anti-doping transparency and tour restructuring signals a pivotal moment in tennis governance. Her dual emphasis on fairness—both in disciplinary proceedings and in scheduling—reflects broader shifts in athlete empowerment across global sports. Whether administrators will translate her proposals into tangible reforms remains to be seen, but the conversation she’s ignited is unlikely to fade once the clay dust settles in Paris.
