‘We Are Not Friends’ – Carlos Alcaraz reveals he didn’t contact Jannik Sinner during 3-month doping ban as he responds to Italian’s grievances
**Carlos Alcaraz Addresses Lack of Contact with Jannik Sinner During Doping Ban**
Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 3, disclosed that he did not reach out to Jannik Sinner during the Italian’s three-month doping suspension, responding to Sinner’s comments about feeling let down by some ATP peers. Speaking after his 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Sinner in the Italian Open final on May 18, 2025, Alcaraz said, “I didn’t send Jannik a message during his ban. I saw him as a rival, and I was focusing on my own game. But I’m happy to see him back at this level,” as reported by Sportskeeda. Sinner had earlier shared, in a May 8 press conference, that he was surprised by the silence from certain players during his ban, though he did not name Alcaraz specifically, per ESPN.[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-carlos-alcaraz-reveals-contact-jannik-sinner-3-month-doping-ban-responds-italian-s-grievances)[](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45051624/jannik-sinner-not-naming-names-messages-doping-ban)
The ban, stemming from two positive Clostebol tests in March 2024, ran from February to May 2025, with Sinner returning at the Italian Open, per The Athletic. Alcaraz’s admission, noted by @Tennis_Updates5 on X, drew varied reactions. Some fans, like @AndreaUrso66, criticized Alcaraz for lacking sportsmanship, arguing it showed a focus on rivalry over professional respect, while others, like @Certinfy, appreciated his candor, seeing it as reflective of their competitive dynamic.[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6365391/2025/05/18/carlos-alcaraz-beats-jannik-sinner-for-italian-open-title-as-three-month-ban-slows-world-no-1/)
Despite their off-court friendliness, Alcaraz emphasized his competitive mindset, saying he didn’t know if Sinner’s remarks targeted him, per Sportskeeda. He praised Sinner’s resilience, noting his Rome final run was “insane” for a comeback, per The Tennis Gazette. With Alcaraz leading their head-to-head 7-4, per Reddit, his focus on tennis over personal outreach underscores their intense rivalry as they approach Roland Garros.[
