"Jannik is stronger than all of us... he'll be back" – Tennis world reacts to Sinner's suspension

Jannik Sinner has received his complete ban after testing positive for clostebol, a banned substance. The Italian will be out of action for three months. His suspension has sparked a heated debate within the tennis community, with many differing opinions on the matter.

Some believe the punishment is too harsh, while others accept the ruling. The sport’s top players have shared their thoughts on the ban, showing the solidarity within the tennis world.

Sinner's suspension

There has been much discussion surrounding the world number one’s positive test, and now the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued its final verdict. Sinner has been handed a three-month ban, meaning he will be unable to compete in tournaments for the foreseeable future. However, WADA accepted the Australian Open champion’s explanation that the substance entered his system unintentionally.

Now that the ban is official, many players have spoken out about the situation.

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Fellow players react

 Carlos Alcaraz

As expected, several players have expressed their support for Sinner, including Richard Gasquet, who praised the Italian’s character.

"Jannik is a great guy, he has a great personality, and he is very nice on the court. He will be back soon; that is the most important thing," Gasquet told Le Parisien (via The Tennis Gazette).

Andrea Vavassori defended his fellow countryman and took aim at some of the criticism directed at Sinner.

"The ignorance of colleagues who attack Jannik is annoying. It's clear that many tennis players, I say this without offence, have not studied much and therefore cannot understand what they read," Vavassori said (via Quindici Zero).

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Jack Draper also stood behind Sinner, showing his support for the Italian’s integrity.

"I know Jannik; he's a good friend. I am sure he wouldn't have done anything intentional," Draper told Sky Sports. "I don't think this is good for the sport, but he'll return shortly. I wish him all the best and hope he will be okay."

Another Italian player, Matteo Berrettini, emphasized his belief that Sinner was innocent and simply made a mistake.

"I'm only sorry for a guy like Sinner who, as the papers show, was the victim of a mistake. But Jannik is stronger than all of us… he'll be back," Berrettini told La Stampa. "I have always supported Sinner and believe that the positive tests resulted from a mistake. I can imagine that it is a difficult time for him."

Casper Ruud also expressed his faith in Sinner's character and ability.

"I know Jannik very well. I'm with him. I think he's a good guy. Of course, after this, he will still be the best player in the world," Ruud said to Le Parisien (via The Tennis Gazette).

Even Carlos Alcaraz, one of Sinner’s biggest rivals on the tour, shared his thoughts on the situation.

"As for the sanction, there is little to say. Whether Jannik plays or not, we try to do well in every tournament because number one is an objective," Alcaraz told AS.

At the China Open, Alcaraz further commented on how difficult the situation must be for Sinner.

"It is difficult for him. I know everyone is talking about it, and the news is talking about it. Probably, as he said before, in New York (US Open), people started to look at him differently," Alcaraz told the media in Beijing (via Times of India). "I don't know how it can be, but I understand the position. I feel (for) him."

Sinner has been out of action for a few months now, and it will be interesting to see how the upcoming tournaments unfold in his absence.

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