Alex de Minaur says he wants future doping offenders to have the “same option” as Jannik Sinner
Alex de Minaur has played against Jannik Sinner ten times in his career and has lost all the meetings, including the recent Australian Open.
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Jannik Sinner, Alex de Minaur (Images via X)
Alex de Minaur was supposed to be the player most relieved that Jannik Sinner will be serving a three-month ban from the sport, as he has on ten occasions lost to him. Surprisingly, the Australian star seems not to be pleased that Sinner’s doping ban was negotiated, while in the past it was not so.
After the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed Sinner’s doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), they insisted that the Italian would serve nothing less than a lengthy ban. The anti-doping body rubbished the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) exoneration verdict, claiming that Sinner was responsible for anything that entered his system even though it was a mistake by his ex-physio.
The hearing of the case was supposed to begin in April, with a ban looming. But last week, the agency announced that it had reached a three-month suspension settlement with Sinner and then withdrew their appeal from CAS. The move has since been criticized, with several players claiming it was made to suit Sinner and not necessarily a ban.
Alex de Minaur, who has been producing great performances on the court this season, gave his opinion about the agreement. The Aussie said that it was the first time he heard a settlement was agreed in the sport and let it set a precedent for future doping offenders.
It’s tough because we have seen something that has never happened. n the past, it has always been a year or two years. It has always been much larger. It is something we have never seen, and I guess if someone else, or the next person, is in a similar position, I hope we see the same option being allowed.
Alex de Minaur said via BB Tennis
Sinner will not feature in any competition until May 4. The Italian is expected to return to court at the Italian Open, which starts three days later. However, his World No.1 position is in danger of being taken away by Alexander Zverev or Carlos Alcaraz.
Alex de Minaur to face Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open
Alex de Minaur has been one of the most outstanding players this season and has already racked up nine wins in three tournaments this year. In fact, he continued with red-hot form at the Qatar Open, where he brushed past Botic van de Zandschulp to reach his third consecutive quarter-finals of the season.
The Australian star hit a milestone on Tuesday (February 18) after earning his 200th tour-level hardcourt win against Roman Safiullin in the opening match. On Wednesday (February 19), he made sure he progressed with the achievement by beating van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4. He produced electric groundstrokes which his Dutch opponent could not handle.
The victory helped him improve his head-to-head record against van de Zandschulp to 3-0. Also, it was his 13th win of the season, the highest earned by any ATP player this season. He is now chasing his 8th career title and first of the season in Doha.
He will face Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open, after the Russian star defeated Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4. De Minaur has a slight 4-3 lead over Rublev in their head-to-head record and will be hoping to improve it when they face each other on Thursday (February 20).
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Victor Okechukwu
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