"A really difficult moment for Jannik Sinner" - Carlos Alcaraz discusses Italian's 'complicated' drugs controversy, stresses belief in a 'clean sport'

Carlos Alcaraz has shared his thoughts on Jannik Sinner's drugs controversy, empathizing with the Italian's difficult situation. Alcaraz also expressed confidence in the ITIA's (International Tennis Integrity Agency) investigation, placing his trust in the Italian's innocent verdict.

It recently came to light that Sinner had tested positive for Costebol, a banned anabolic steroid, during the Indian Wells Masters in March. However, the Italian was allowed to continue competing after successfully appealing the provisional suspension. He received a clean chit after an independent tribunal ruled it an accidental exposure caused by his former physiotherapist.

Carlos Alcaraz addressed the issue in his pre-tournament press conference at the 2024 US Open, empathizing with Jannik Sinner amid the "complicated" situation.

"Well, it's a really difficult moment for him, that's for sure. It is complicated. I mean, I'm not gonna lie, it is complicated. But obviously what I can say? I mean, in English it's going to be difficult for me to explain myself, but I try," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Emphasizing his belief in a "clean sport," Alcaraz acknowledged that many details of the controversy are only known to Sinner and his team. Nevertheless, he affirmed his trust in the ITIA's decision to allow the World No. 1 to continue competing, believing in his innocent verdict.

"Well, I believe in a clean sport. So I don't know too much about that. You know, I am pretty sure that there are a lot of things that we don't know, you know, inside the team or inside, you know, everything. But if they let Jannik to keep playing, is for something, they said he's innocent. So that's all I know and that's all I can talk about," he added.

"It doesn't matter for me" - Carlos Alcaraz "not worried" about lack of preparation on hardcourts ahead of US Open

Carlos Alcaraz (Source: Getty)

After clinching the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Carlos Alcaraz competed in just one preparatory tournament in the lead-up to the 2024 US Open. The Spaniard's campaign at the Cincinnati Open was short-lived, as he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Gael Monfils in his opening match.

Neverthless, Alcaraz dispelled concerns about his limited preparation for the New York Major, pointing out that he had a similar lack of match practice before the French Open and Wimbledon, where he still emerged victorious.

"Well, it doesn't matter for me. Obviously I have loved to have more matches on my belt on hard court before the US Open. But, I mean, it doesn't affect me at all," Carlos Alcaraz said in the same press conference.

"If I look back a little bit, you know, for example, facing the Roland Garros, I hadn't too much matches on clay, and it was a pretty good result. And then in Wimbledon, same thing, you know," he added.

The World No. 3 emphasized that he isn't worried about being underprepared, as he aims to improve on his semifinal finish from last year.

"So I don't want to think that it's going to be the same, you know, than the previous two Grand Slams, but I'm not worried about not having too many matches on hard court," he said.

Carlos Alcaraz will take on qualifier Li Tu in his opening match at the US Open. If he beats Tu, the 21-year-old will face Denis Shapovalov or Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round, with a potential semifinal clash with Jannik Sinner on the cards.