"Next-level messed up";"Unhinged" - Fans outraged by Jannik Sinner's doping case being compared to Monica Seles' stabbing by Italian journalist

An Italian journalist has compared Jannik Sinner's failed drug tests and their consequences with the stabbing of Monica Seles. Fans were shocked at the comparison with some labeling it 'insane' and 'disgraceful'

Sinner tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug twice in March and the reports were made public recently after an independent tribunal investigated the matter and found the World No. 1 to be innocent.

However, the issue became the talk of the town in the tennis world. Italian journalist Stefano Meloccaro believes Sinner's colleagues did not support him just like Monica Seles' colleagues did not support her when she was stabbed in Hamburg in 1993.

"When what happened to Monica Seles happened, 99% of her colleagues looked the other way. So, nothing new under the sun," Meloccaro wrote on X (translated from Italian).

Seles was an eight-time Grand Slam champion and a teenage sensation destined for great things. She was stabbed by a Steffi Graf fan whose motive was to stop Seles' dominance. Fans were shocked to see the Italian journalist make such a comparison.

"Monica Seles. Listen to yourself," one fan wrote.

"I would say that the comparison is inadequate, Seles was the victim of an aggression, an episode that damaged her from a physical point of view, but towards which she cannot have any responsibility, not even indirectly," another fan wrote (translated from Italian).

"The Italian Jannik Sinner supporters have completely lost their mind. Some insane takes in the past few days," a third fan wrote.

Here are more fan reactions to the comparison between Sinner's doping saga and Seles' stabbing.

"Italian journalists are now comparing the stabbing of Monica Seles with whatever happened with Jannik Sinner. Just disgraceful," one fan wrote.

"If you gave me a week to come up w the most terrible, unhinged take, I still couldn’t produce something of this caliber," another fan wrote.

"Comparing attempted murder and a doping case is next-level messed up. Apples and oranges, my guy," yet another fan wrote.

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Carlos Alcaraz makes honest admission about Jannik Sinner's 'complicated' situation

Jannik Sinner (L) and Carlos Alcaraz. (Image: Getty)

Players like Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov had already made their stance clear regarding Jannik Sinner's doping controversy, but many others were asked about their views on the situation during the 2024 US Open press conference.

Carlos Alcaraz was asked about the Italian's predicament and he acknowledged that it was complicated.

"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.

Alcaraz believes in a 'clean sport' but acknowledged that there may be information inside Sinner's team or otherwise that was not disclosed. However, he feels that if the World No. 1 was allowed to keep playing, it was because he was announced innocent.

"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.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner are preparing to begin their 2024 US Open campaigns. The Spaniard will take on Li Tu while the Italian will face Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday, August 27.