"Try to keep going": Carlos Alcaraz defends Jannik Sinner amid doping allegations
Carlos Alcaraz registered his 200th career win as he won his second-round match at China Open. The 21-year-old Spaniard beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 Beijing Tour. The 2024 season witnessed Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dividing the Grand Slam titles equally between them. As the 23-year old Italian claimed the Australian Open and the US Open title, Alcaraz went for the Wimbledon and Roland Garros titles. Now, as both the players feature at the China Open, Sinner has been embroiled in a troubling case.
Carlos Alcaraz speaks for Jannik Sinner at the China Open as WADA appeals for a two-year ban
Jannik Sinner was charged with doping violation during the Indian Wells Tour earlier this year. The case was made public ahead of the US Open when ITIA cleared the World No. 1 off any charges. The Italian player was tested positive for clostebol, a banned substance, twice during the ATP Tour. However, Sinner successfully appealed his case to a tribunal across three hearings before he went on to claim the US Open title. An independent tribunal announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on August 20 accepted Sinner’s claim that the banned substance had unintentionally entered his system during a massage. The steroid was present in a spray his physiotherapist used to treat their own cut finger.
However, the case has swerved its head again as the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed to the Court of Arbitration of Sports against Sinner. WADA has called for a two-year ban on Jannik Sinner in its appeal to the CAS. The anti-doping body, in its statement, explained that it does not agree with the ITIA’s finding of “no fault or negligence” as put forth earlier by the tribunal in Sinner’s case.
Carlos Alcaraz, the true rival to Sinner in the sport, recently talked about the case and its effect on the World No.1 player. While the Spaniard agreed that the case is not good for Tennis but he sympathised with Sinner. The young gun went on to explain that while people might start seeing Sinner in a different light after the case, he can totally understand Sinner’s position.
“I think for tennis it’s not really good, not really a good sign for tennis in general," Alcaraz noted. “It is difficult for him. I know everyone is talking about it, the news is talking about it,” he said, having reached the last eight in Beijing,” he added. “Probably as he said before New York, people started to look at him in a different way. I don’t know how it can be, but for sure I understand the position. I feel (for) him,” he further explained.
“But anyway, the game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane. I hope that this thing will be put aside soon and he’s able to stay focused on what he loves, and that is playing tennis, trying to keep going,” the World no. 3 ranked Spanish star concluded.
As WADA continues its appeal against the reigning US Open champion, Jannik Sinner is in Beijing for the China Open. The Italian player started the event with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Chile’s 28th-ranked Nicolas Jarry. The defending champion at the ATP 500 Beijing Tour, Sinner will now face Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic on Monday.
