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From Jannik Sinner’s doping ban, to Coco Gauff's French Open win marred by some unwanted comments, the 2025 tennis season had its fair share of drama. The two big stars were not the only ones making headlines though.
The likes of Jelena Ostapenko, Taylor Townsend, Elena Ryabkina also found themselves being noticed for things outside of their tennis. With the season now in the past and still a few days’ time for the 2026 calendar to begin, it makes for the perfect time to look back at some of the big controversies that unfolded on the Tour in 2025:
Jannik Sinner doping ban
Late last year, Jannik Sinner found himself embroiled in a doping controversy after he tested positive for the banned clostebol from a sample collected in March. Later in the year, he was stripped of his prize money and ranking points earned at Indian Wells.
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Just when the then World No. 1 thought that the episode was behind him, the World Anti-Doping Agency challenged the decision of the tribunal that had found “no fault or negligence” on his part.
Things took a turn for the worse for Sinner, who was handed a three-month ban in February this year. It came as a blow as the Italian was in top form, having just won a second consecutive Australian Open title. He missed the Sunshine Double and most of the clay season only to return to competition at home in Rome. The time away from sport also put a spotlight back on the strict regulations around doping.
Coco Gauff's French Open win tarnished
Coco Gauff found herself back in a French Open final three years after her first. Only this time, she came out on the right side of the outcome, lifting a second Grand Slam title after beating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Her celebrations were, however, somewhat marred with some comments made in the immediate aftermath of the outcome. Sabalenka, the losing finalist, said Gauff in her opinion did not win the match not because she played “incredible” but “just because I made all of those mistakes”. She even suggested that Iga Swiatek, who she had beaten in the semifinal, would have won the contest had she played against Gauff in comments that many believed was in poor taste.
Sabalenka would go on to offer Gauff an apology, calling her own comments “unprofessional”. The American was a good sport about it and the two were seen practicising and making videos together in time for Wimbledon.
Jelena Ostapenko-Taylor Townsend US Open controversy
Another statement made by a player after a tough Grand Slam loss was Jelena Ostapenko’s much talked about “no class, no education” remark aimed at Taylor Townsend.
The incident took place at the US Open, where the American took out her opponent in a keenly contested 7-5, 6-1 encounter. After the player shook hands, Ostapenko made her frustration clear about her opponent not apologising for a let cord earlier in the match, which led to a brief argument.
With emotions running high, Ostapenko said Townsend had “no class and no education", a remark which did not go down well with many who pointed out racist undertones. Townsend, who later spoke at lenght about the need for respect between players, drew a lot of praise for her handling of the situation and even went on to match her best run at a Slam by reaching the quarterfinals in New York.
Fellow players including the likes of Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton, Sloane Stephens were also quick to react, with Naomi Osaka even dubbing it “one of the worst things you could say to a black tennis player”.
Ostapenko, who is known to wear her heart on her sleeve, did offer an apology. Pointing out that English was not her first language, she said,
“...when I said education I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette. But I understand how the words used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.”
Emma Raducanu stalker incident
Emma Raducanu gave fans a scare at the Dubai Open when she burst into tears mid-match. In distressing information, she went to reveal that a man from the stands had been stalking her for a while.
The youngster said she had a run in with the same person at the tournament earlier, with WTA noting that he had “exhibited fixated behaviour”. Her opponent Karolina Muchova, who herself had a tough moment on court after seeing an ex-boyfriend during a match later in the year, offered Raducanu immediate assistance.
“Difficult experience yesterday but I'll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match. Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport” Emma Raducanu had said at the time.
The chair umpire intervened and the man was removed from the stands, while the WTA later banned the man in question from all events “pending a threat assessment”. The same person’s name was found on the Wimbledon ticket ballot, but removed him given the background.
Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov coaching fiasco
Elena Rybakina and coach Stefano Vukov’s relationship was the talk of the tennis world for most part of the 2025 season. After splitting up at the back end of last year, the two found themselves at the centre of controversy on multiple occasions.
The WTA issued a one-year ban on Vukov in February 2025 following a code of conduct investigation over “abusive conduct and abuse of authority” toward Rybakina. Pam Shriver was the first to call out what she viewed as harsh and unacceptable behavior being meted out to the former Wimbledon champion from her own coach way back in 2023.
Allegations, starting from emotional abuse to obsessive behaviour even during their brief split (which included Vukov hovering around outside Rybakina’s hotel room despite being asked to leave) eventually culminated in the ban that prevented him from accessing WTA events, courts and other facilities.
In a surprising turn of events though, Rybakina jumped to the defence of her former coach. She voiced her disagreement with WTA’s handling of the situation and maintained that Vukov never mistreated her.
Following an investigation, Vukov’s ban was rescinded and he was back in Rybakina camp within a year of them parting ways. The controversy, however, has not died down completely. Rybakina again made headlines after refusing to take pictures with WTA chief executive Portia Archer at the Tour Finals in an evident stance against the Tour’s investigation into Vukov. Nonetheless, she walked away with the trophy and will be looking to carry the momentum in the 2026 season.
