WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Carlos Alcaraz reacts to Jannik Sinner ban
The Italian has been suspended for three months
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Carlos Alcaraz has insisted he doesn't have much to say on Jannik Sinner's ban after the tennis star was banned for three months.
The Italian returned two positive drug tests in 2024 but always denied doping, insisting his physiotherapist had inadvertantly treated him with a banned substance.
After Sinner was cleared, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
On Saturday, it was confirmed that the three-time Grand Slam winner would be suspended from February 9 until May 4.
Carlos Alcaraz has insisted he doesn't have much to say on Jannik Sinner's ban after the tennis star was banned for three months
REUTERS
Sinner is set to miss Masters events in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid as a result.
That means that Alcaraz could become world No 1, with the Spaniard keen to get as many ranking points as possible.
But the 22-year-old has insisted he 'doesn't have much to say' about Sinner's ban, at a time when many figures within the tennis world have reacted with fury.
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"There is not much to say about the sanction," he said.
"But whether Jannik plays or not, we try to do well in every tournament, because first place is a goal.
"Right now, as always, we try to focus on what we need to improve, and from there we will do our best in the tournaments to try to get closer to first place."
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While Alcaraz seems unfazed, that's not the case with many tennis figures past and present.
Nick Kyrgios, who has long been vocal in his criticism of the Sinner case, took to social media to fume: “So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban.
"Obviously Sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost.
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Carlos Alcaraz could rise to No 1 in the world rankings in the wake of Jannik Sinner's tennis ban
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"Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist."
In a separate post on Instagram, Kyrgios doubled down.
“To the future generation tennis players - after today, you can dope, just ‘without knowing’.... Test positive, play through all the investigation, then settle on a convenient 3 month ban, not get stripped of any money or titles and carry on," he said.
Jannik Sinner has been banned for three months, with the tennis star free to play in the Grand Slams later in the year
REUTERS
“Sad day for me - someone who has played this sport since I was 7 years old, battled injury after injury and have given a s**t load to this sport.
"I pray that kids that play this sport do it the right way.”
Tim Henman has also provided his verdict. The Briton backs Sinner's version of events but still believes that the decision to suspend him for three months, rather than longer, leaves a 'sour taste'.