Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have just taken part in one of the best finals of the year, with the former continuing to compete at the highest level despite so much off-court turmoil.
It’s truly amazing how he is able to compartmentalise amidst an ongoing trial, having tested positive for the steroid Clostebol earlier in the year.
Having seemingly overcome those charges, WADA re-emerged to lobby that Sinner should still be banned.
Andy Roddick has now reacted.
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one pulled no punches in his assessment of Jannik Sinner‘s predicament.
In fact, he would boldly note: ’Imagine waking up, getting an email, you not knowing what the hell is happening but all of a sudden getting an email that says you’ve tested positive for something you probably can’t spell, and then panic ensues.
‘If it takes you more than two days to actually know the source, figure it out, organise, talk to your team, talk to everyone else, get to know the problem to solve the problem, which Jannik Sinner did within that 48-hour period which is why he has gotten some time, some grace, and didn’t have to stop playing.
‘Now other cases where they don’t know where it came from and they need more time and they can’t afford an army of lawyers quickly, they don’t often operate with enough clarity to submit a proposal, it’s not a guess. You have to submit a formal thing with confidence that that’s what your case is going to be based off of.
‘Jannik Sinner did that, which is why people are saying ‘Well he got special treatment.’ He did everything he has done so far.
‘And listen, you might want him to get suspended. I don’t disagree with you. I said during the US Open if they had suspended him for six months I wouldn’t have blinked. I understand that we have some responsibility for our team and our surroundings.
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‘I don’t think he did it on purpose.’
These claims were all made just before Sinner and Alcaraz squared off in today’s showpiece final in the China Open, with the latter coming out on top.
In what was a clash worthy of their shared excellence, they traded blows throughout, with both players bringing up match points.
However, despite falling a set behind, it was the Spaniard who came from behind to win in dramatic fashion.
He finished off his rival in a deciding tiebreak, again fighting back after falling into an early 3-0 deficit to win six straight points.
Both were in inspired form, and at times some of the ball striking and points played were otherworldly.
If this is to be the future of tennis, the sport is in good hands.