Carlos Alcaraz breaks his silence as WADA seeks long ban for Jannik Sinner after two failed drug tests
Carlos Alcaraz talked about WADA's appeal to CAS about Jannik Sinner's doping case for the first time during the China Open.
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Images via X)
Jannik Sinner is once again surrounded by controversy. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided to appeal against the decision by an independent tribunal which cleared Sinner of all wrongdoing after the Italian tested positive for a banned substance, an anabolic steroid called clostebol twice in March this year.
Sinner was surprised and disappointed when he got to know that WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), asking the body to punish him by banning him. Carlos Alcaraz, who once defended his rival when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) made the case public, once again reiterated the same after WADA’s appeal.
Well, it’s difficult. I know that is a really difficult point. Is difficult for him. I know everyone talking about it, the news, talking about it. Probably, as he said before New York, the people started to look at him in different way. I don’t know how it can be. But for sure I understand the position. I feel him.
Carlos Alcarz said at a press conference
The tennis community got to know about the doping case after Sinner won the Cincinnati Masters and just a few days before the start of the US Open. In spite of being in the midst of the controversy, Sinner went on to win his first US Open with a straight-set win over Taylor Fritz in the final. And for this, Alcaraz praised Sinner, calling the level that Sinner has been playing with “insane” and “unbelievable“.
Carlos Alcaraz wishes to see Jannik Sinner stay focused amidst controversy
The tennis community has already started to expect more Carlos Alcaraz–Jannik Sinner rivalry in the near future. The four-time Grand Slam champion, though aware of Sinner being one of the threats on his path to more Grand Slams, has nothing but good wishes for him when it comes to the doping saga, as he hopes the two-time Grand Slam champion doesn’t lose his focus.
I hope that this thing, this term will be aside soon, and he’s able to play to stay focused on what he loves, and that is playing tennis, trying to keep going.
Carlos Alcaraz added
Both Alcaraz and Sinner are in Beijing for the China Open and have reached the quarterfinals by beating Tallon Griekspoor and Roman Safiullin respectively. While Sinner is the defending champion, Alcaraz’s victory over Griekspoor was his 200th tour-level win.
Gouri Das
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