ATP Tour

Alcaraz: ‘Special energy’ from fans elevates Sinner rivalry

Carlos Alcaraz was unsurprisingly in a buoyant mood on Saturday evening in Indian Wells after achieving something no one else has managed in 2024 — defeating Jannik Sinner.

The pair played out a thrilling see-saw battle in their BNP Paribas Open semi-final but it was Alcaraz who found something extra late on to run out a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 winner in Tennis Paradise.

The form book had suggested Sinner was favourite to prevail against the Spaniard, who is one spot above him in the PIF ATP Rankings but had not reached a tour-level final since last August after losing his past four semi-finals. The World No. 2 Alcaraz was delighted to snap that streak, as well as Sinner’s 16-match unbeaten start to 2024.

"I'm really happy to qualify for another final,” said the 20-year-old in his post-match press conference. “It means a lot to me to play such a great level and be able to play another final. Of course, beating Jannik, we have a really good rivalry, and of course a 16-match streak, and to be able to end something like this, it's incredible for me.”

Alcaraz and Sinner’s Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry now stands at 4-4. The Spaniard had slipped behind in the count after losing his past two matches to his friend and rival Sinner, but only used that fact as inspiration as he battled back from a tough start to keep his title defence alive in Indian Wells.

“Every time that I'm going to face Jannik I'm going to get nervous,” said Alcaraz. “That's for sure, because I know that I have to play 100 per cent if I want to beat him. It doesn't get me nervous, the fact that I [might be] behind in head-to-head. It gives me extra motivation to give my 100 per cent, just to beat him in that head-to-head.

“I try to play my best every match against him, to be able to catch him. I think I did it [today]. We are equals right now, if I'm not wrong. So the next time that I'm going to face him, I'm not going to think about battling that.”

These two 😍

@janniksin 🤝 @carlosalcaraz @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/aWLevfOFYZ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 17, 2024

A big feature of Alcaraz and Sinner’s rivalry is the way crowds engage with their matches as the two players go toe-to-toe. Things were no different Saturday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where the buzz among spectators contributed to another memorable match featuring several breathtaking extended rallies.

“It's unbelievable to play matches like this one with this atmosphere,” said Alcaraz. “As I said after the match, I feel like I'm playing at home. It's something crazy seeing that I'm playing in another part of the world [from my country], and be able to feel that energy, that love like I'm playing at home. It is something unbelievable.

“Every time that I'm playing against Jannik, I think for both of us, it's an amazing fight. But for the crowd, it is an amazing match that I think that they enjoy every time that we are playing each other. I think the energy that people bring to us is special.”