Carlos Alcaraz forced to ‘decline drinks’ over fear of contamination after Jannik Sinner’s and Iga Swiatek’s doping saga
Carlos Alcaraz has become more careful of what he is eating or drinking as he knows that carelessness could lead to contamination.
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Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/
Carlos Alcaraz is wary of the consequences of not taking care of what he consumes. Jannik Sinner‘s and Iga Swiatek’s doping cases have made the tennis players more cautious as unintentional contamination can result in lengthy bans or can ruin their careers.
Alcaraz has never blamed either Sinner or Swiatek for failing the drug tests. But their cases sparked a massive backlash as both avoided lengthy bans, prompting many to think that their being top players was the reason behind lenient punishment.
Both Sinner and Swiatek tested positive for banned drugs last year and were given a no-fault or negligence verdict by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Though Swiatek was given a one-month ban which removed her from the top of the rankings, the three-time Grand Slam champion’s verdict was challenged by the World Anti-Doping Agency but a few months later, both the parties reached a settlement agreement and the Italian was given a three-month ban.
The issue with doping is very delicate. It has reached a point where someone offers me a drink, and I have to decline in case it contains something. We have to be careful with everything we take, eat, or use.
Carlos Alcaraz told El Hormiguero
Swiatek is in Madrid to defend her title as well as bid for her first trophy since winning the 2024 French Open. She will lock horns with Alexandra Eala in the second round, which will also be a rematch of this year’s Miami Open quarterfinals where the Thai ace shocked the five-time Grand Slam champion.
Sinner is serving his doping ban and will make his comeback at the Italian Open, which starts on May 7. He has so far participated at the Australian Open this season, ending the tournament in his favor with a straight-set win over Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz is preparing for the Madrid Open where he will kick-start his campaign against Zizou Bergs or Yoshihito Nishioka in the second round. The Spaniard is doubtful for the Masters 1000 tournament as he inured his upper right leg during the Barcelona Open final against Holger Rune.
Lorenzo Musetto wants to take revenge on Carlos Alcaraz
One of the goals of Lorenzo Musetti for this season is to beat Carlos Alcaraz. They have locked horns with each other five times with Alcaraz winning four of those matches, including the Monte-Carlo Masters final.
Alcaraz entered the clay swing without winning a title in the two Sunshine Double tournaments. But in Monte Carlo, where he played for the first time since 2022, Alcaraz kicked off his clay season in an emphatic fashion.
Mussetti, who reached the summit clash of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time, suffered from some discomfort. And Alcaraz, after losing the first set, showed him no mercy, lifting his first title in The Principality with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 scoreline. Musetti is now dreaming of taking revenge on the four-time Grand Slam champion.
I have to take revenge on him, and we hope that this tournament or the next one could be a good tournament. I also said it in the on-court interview that it is one of the objectives for the season.
Lorenzo Musetti told Madrid Open (via YouTube)
The Italian will kick off his Madrid Open campaign against Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Hamad Medjedovic. He could set up a clash with the 21-year-old if both of them reach the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz will be chasing his third title in the Spanish capital after lifting it in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Andrey Rublev denied him a chance to complete the three-peat as he beat him in the quarterfinals.
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