Sinner and the doping case, Alcaraz surprise defense lawyer

“Jannik is innocent.” Jannik Sinner, still dealing with the doping case, finds an exceptional defense lawyer: Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, like the Italian qualified for the quarter-finals of the ATP tournament in Beijing, expresses his opinion on the affair involving the world number 1. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has appealed Sinner’s acquittal by an independent tribunal in August. The Italian, who tested positive twice in the spring for clostebol, an anabolic steroid taken due to contamination, risks a 1-2 year disqualification in the proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“It’s not a good thing for tennis. It seemed that the case was closed and instead it suddenly reopened. It’s a difficult moment for him, I understand his position and I can imagine his feelings. He’s innocent, they saw who didn’t do anything wrong. I saw the news of the appeal and I was surprised”, says Alcaraz, Sinner’s rival and with the blue the main representative of the new wave of tennis. “The level of play he is expressing despite everything is incredible – underlines the 21 year old Spaniard in the press conference after his victory in the 2nd round of the Beijing tournament -. He is able to put aside the things that aren’t right when he enters court and knows how to play great tennis. I hope that this affair ends as soon as possible and that Jannik can concentrate on what he loves, tennis.”

Alcaraz’s words represent a turnaround compared to the statements that the Spaniard made less than a month ago, as Sinner was on his way to triumph at the US Open. “They said he was innocent”, the phrase with which Alcaraz dismissed the matter after the independent tribunal’s verdict.