Carlos Alcaraz was quizzed over Jannik Sinner’s ongoing doping ban as WADA reopens the case.
While Jannik Sinner looks to have pipped Carlos Alcaraz to the year-end world number one spot, the Italian’s ongoing doping saga has taken a fresh turn.
During his second-round comeback win against Roman Safiullin in Beijing, the defending champion’s case was reopened by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March but was later cleared by an independent tribunal, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), in August.
However, WADA have since lodged an appeal against the initial verdict and called for Sinner to face a ban of at least 12 months. The Italian responded saying he was ‘surprised’ at the new ruling.
With the cloud hanging over his head during the US Open, Sinner managed to miraculously block out the noise and clinch his second Grand Slam title. However, with the lengthy backlog of cases WADA are dealing with, the situation may drag on longer than he’d like.
Carlos Alcaraz sends message of support to Jannik Sinner over new WADA ruling
With Alcaraz and Sinner having both swept up two majors each this year, they have together turned the page and marked the inception of a new tennis generation.
After Alcaraz notched up his 200th record-breaking win on Sunday, he was asked about the new developments in Sinner’s case in his post-match press conference.
“Well, yeah, as you said, it’s really sensitive things to Jannik and tennis in general. I mean, after everything was decided, let’s say, before Cincinnati, that the ITIA said that Jannik Sinner saying he didn’t do anything wrong, and now came again, it is open again,” Alcaraz said.
“I think for tennis it’s not really good, not really a good sign for tennis in general. It seems like something happened. But, you know, after one months, let’s say, I thought it was closed, anything is going to happen again, Jannik is innocent, and they saw that Jannik didn’t do anything wrong.
“So I started to thinking about it and start thinking about myself. This month I didn’t know what happen exactly. I just saw the news and it surprise me a little bit. Okay, what’s going on that the case is open again? I don’t know how it’s going to be the next months. For sure to tennis, not a good sign.”
With the pair the two top seeds in Beijing, they are still widely anticipated to meet in the final for what would be their third meeting this year.
Alcaraz was then asked what he might say to Sinner in this particular moment, with the Spaniard showing his class.
“Well, it’s difficult. I know that it’s a really difficult point. It’s difficult for him,” Alcaraz sympathised. “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.
“But anyway, the game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane. He’s able to put all the things aside when he steps on the court, playing a good tennis, it’s unbelievable.
“I hope that this thing, this term will be aside soon and he’s able to stay focused on what he loves, and that is playing tennis, trying to keep going. All I can say, I hope that with his people around, his close people and him, are not going to feel bad these next months.”
Carlos Alcaraz oozes class on and off the court
The young Spaniard has been flying in the Chinese capital, deploying his craft and guile in two tantalizing displays.
A dismantling of big server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard came before a disciplined 57-minute win over Tallon Griekspoor.
Now, when pressed by reporters to comment on a complex and developing case, Alcaraz remained composed and deliberate in his assessment.
Friends off court and rivals on it, Alcaraz is showing class beyond his years.
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