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The tennis fraternity seems clearly to have hit out in anger after Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek won the International Tennis Federation's world champions award for 2024. Sinner and Swiatek have been embroiled in doping scandals that have divided the tennis fraternity, fans, and pundits, and in the case of Swiatek, critics are questioning why the current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was snubbed for this award.
Iga Swiatek edged out Aryna Sabalenka for the women's singles award
Notably, the 23-year-old Poland star emerged victorious in the French Open and won four WTA 1000 titles in an excellent 2024 that also included an Olympic bronze medal in Paris. Swiatek also helped Poland make it to the semifinals of the Billie Jean Cup before they suffered defeat against eventual champions Italy. However, Sabalenka has won two major titles, the US Open and Australian Open. The Belarus-born star won two WTA 1000 titles and sits at the top spot in WTA's rankings but is shockingly overlooked for this prestigious title.
On the other hand, Sinner's win included the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. The Italian sensation also won the season-ending ATP Finals and led Italy to win the Davis Cup. He ended the season as the world number one and toppled Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the same year in ATP rankings. However, Sinner tested positive twice for the anabolic agent clostebol but successfully argued that he was given it by his physio. Sinner has been facing critics as fans believed that Carlos Alcaraz would have won this, having won two Grand Slam titles alongside the silver medal in Paris in the same year.
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Here is how fans have reacted to Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner's award:
What an embarrassment, how the hell does Sabalenka not win that award.. totally devalues this to a Mickey Mouse award!
β Darksong πΊπ¦ (@Darksong4Tennis) January 20, 2025
The dopersssss
β Ram gon est (@ramsesglezestr1) January 21, 2025
But Sabalenka with 2 slams doesnβt get it , we know why . The 2 drug addicts get the award
β United Geezer (@UTDgeezer) January 20, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz wins 2 Slams and a Silver Medal in the Olympics.
β Pavvy G (@pavyg) January 20, 2025
Aryna Sabalenka only woman to win more than 1 slam in 2024 and was the year end world Number 1.
But the ITF give their world champ awards to two players who failed drug tests for performance enhancing substances.
Aryna Sabalenka is number one and I really hope she wins the Australian Open and show the world!
β Khaleesi (@sanakhaleesi) January 20, 2025
Joke!
β Dorothy Molloy βοΈπβοΈπ (@1dor) January 20, 2025
2 Dopers
β Derek Brad (@DerekBradPhoto) January 20, 2025
Unbelievable ππ