Jannik Sinner's coach shares cryptic update, fans wildly speculate it is a dig at Novak Djokovic after latest comments on Italian's doping ban

Jannik Sinner's coach recently shared a cryptic update, which came on the back of Novak Djokovic's polarizing assessment of the Italian's doping saga. Subsequently, several fans speculated that the coach's update was a dig aimed at the Serb.

In a recently-released interview with Piers Morgan, the former World No. 1 and 24-time Slam winner, despite empathizing with Sinner, vociferously questioned the handling of the Italian's doping row that rocked the tennis world last year. Sinner twice tested positive for Clostebol, a banned, performance-enhancing anabolic steroid, and subsequently served a controversially timed three-month ban in early 2025.

Opining that there was a significant lack of transparency as well as multiple red flags in how Jannik Sinner's case was handled, Novak Djokovic told Piers Morgan:

"When this happened I was shocked honestly. I do think that he didn’t do it on purpose. But the way the whole case was handled is so many red flags. The lack of transparency. The inconsistency. The convenience of the ban coming between the Slams so he doesn’t miss out… it’s just… it was very very odd."

On Thursday, November 13, Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's two coaches, took to his Instagram Stories and shared a quote from author Bill Bullard, which delivers a rather chastening take on human opinion. The quote reads:

"Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world."

It didn't take long for Cahill's post to gain traction on X (formerly Twitter), where many fans suggested that it was aimed at Djokovic. Fans of the Italian were convinced that the post was meant for the Serb, and they were rather happy about it.

"I’m glad he said this b/c we are tired of Djokovic rehashing this doping situation again doing that interview that moron If Sinner was on the level of a Fritz or Zverev, I bet Djokovic wouldn’t have give a flying f**k. It’s because Sinner beats him all the time he’s like that," one fan wrote. "I would add this : you can be the best tennis player in history and still talk crap @DjokerNole," added another. "Just had to remind a certain someone that just bc he won a certain amount of slams doesn't mean his opinions matter 🫶🏻 so humble of you darren," another fan chimed in. "That's typical of Jannik and team... Subtlety in message passing, nothing gross. That's why I'm a fan by the way," wrote one. "This flavour of shade… delicious," another added. "That's a slipper shot to Novak," weighed in yet another fan.

"It was unfair but there could have been a greater injustice" - Jannik Sinner on reaching settlement with WADA that led to three-month ban

Jannik Sinner during a press conference at the 2025 Paris Masters (Source: Getty)

In an interview with Sky Sports Italy in April this year, as he was serving his three-month suspension, Jannik Sinner reflected on the settlement he reached with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that resulted in the ban. According to the Italian, he wasn't in complete agreement with WADA, but ultimately took the settlement route because it was the "lesser evil".

"Accepting the suspension? I felt very comfortable. The decision to settle was very quick even though I didn't agree too much. In the end we chose the lesser evil even though it was unfair but there could have been a greater injustice so that's how it was," Jannik Sinner said.

Jannik Sinner is currently in Turin, Italy for his title defense at the year-end ATP Finals. The World No. 2 has already secured progress to the tournament's semifinals after two dominant wins in his first two Round Robin phase matches against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Zverev.

Edited by Sudipto Pati