Carlos Alcaraz may have just come off the wrong side of a Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner, but the 22-year-old Spaniard isn’t dwelling on the loss.
Instead, he’s reflecting on something much bigger and that is the growing rivalry between the two young stars that’s quickly one of fan-favourite roivarly after Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Speaking after the final, Alcaraz acknowledged the significance of his battles with the World No. 1, both for his own development and for the sport as a whole.
“First of all, just really happy about having this rivalry with him,” Carlos Alcaraz said. “I think it’s great for us and it’s great for the tennis.”
The two have now met in a Grand Slam final for the second time in 2025 alone, with Alcaraz having edged Sinner in five sets at Roland Garros, and Sinner returning the favor at Wimbledon. Their matches consistently deliver the highest quality tennis, often pushing each other to new limits.
“Every time we play each other, I think our level is really high,” Alcaraz continued. “We don’t watch a level like this, if I’m honest with you. I don’t see any players playing against each other having the level that we’re playing when we face each other.”
While rivalries have defined eras in men’s tennis—from Federer vs. Nadal to Djokovic vs. Murray to now the new generation Alcaraz vs. Sinner is shaping up to be the face of the post-Big Three generation.
However, for Alcaraz, the presence of such a high-caliber rival is a blessing, not a burden.
“This rivalry is becoming better and better,” he said. “We’re building a really great rivalry, because we’re playing the final of a Grand Slam, final of Masters… it means the best tournaments in the world. It’s gonna be better and better. I’m really grateful for that.”
Beyond the headlines and trophies, Alcaraz values how much Sinner’s presence raises his own game.
“It gives me the opportunity to just give my 100% every practice and every day. Thanks to that. The level I have to maintain and raise if I want to beat Jannik is really high,” he concluded. “I’m just really grateful for that.”
In tennis, or any sports, true rivalries aren’t forged overnight—they’re built through shared battles, but most importantly mutual respect.
