For Jannik Sinner, Sunday’s victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t just about reaching another milestone; it was a significant moment in his life, or well, his professional career.
After being asked how important it was to beat the Spaniard again, the Italian didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mental and emotional impact of repeatedly falling short in past encounters.
“Yeah, it is important for sure,” Jannik Sinner said. “When you lose several times against someone, it’s not easy. But at the same time, in the past, I felt I was very close.”
Indeed, their recent head-to-head matches have all been tightly contested, often decided by a few points.
“If you watch our matchups… starting Beijing, 7-6 in the third. Then Rome, I had set point in the first set, I couldn’t use it. Then in Paris, what happened happened. But I felt close.”
That “what happened” in Paris was their Roland Garros final clash in June, which Alcaraz won in five grueling sets.
Despite his win, the World No. 1 continues to hold Alcaraz in high regard. The two share a deep mutual respect, built over several high-stakes battles in recent years. Even in victory, Sinner remained grounded, noting that Alcaraz still managed to outshine him in certain aspects of the match.
“I keep looking up to Carlos because even today I felt like he was doing a couple things better than I did,” Sinner admitted. “That’s something we will work on and prepare ourselves. Because he is gonna come for us again.”
Sinner also acknowledged the broader picture that he’s no longer the hunter but the hunted. Now the World No. 1 and a Grand Slam champion, Sinner knows that every player on tour will bring their best against him.
“There’s not only Carlos but everyone. We have a big target on us. We have to be prepared. And then we will see what happens in the future.”
With another win over Alcaraz under his belt, Sinner has not only evened the rivalry. And it will be interesting to see who can break that tie in the coming Grand Slam.