ATP Tour

Alcaraz on Sinner: 'Hopefully we'll meet in the final'

It’s no coincidence; between them, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have claimed the past seven Grand Slam titles (since the 2024 Australian Open). The top two players in the PIF ATP Rankings have ruled the ATP Tour with an iron fist, and the results are there to prove it.

Now, with both men about to kick off their US Open campaigns (Alcaraz starts on Monday against Reilly Opelka, while Sinner gets underway on Tuesday against Vit Kopriva), the rest of the locker room will be keeping a close eye on what the two young guns are doing as they attempt to hunt them down.

“I think right now there are a lot of players who have a very good level,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously, Jannik has proven his superiority. I’ve been beaten a lot and I’ve perhaps had more difficult matches than him. But ultimately, the results show that we’ve both been up there. In the end, the one who deserves it will get it. The one who works hard to get there, will do it. There are people with a very high level who maybe now are going through a difficult time, but I’m sure they’ll get back to their best.

“Personally, I try to improve every day, watch a lot of matches, both of Jannik and others, to see what I can do better and give them as many problems as I can. Tennis evolves, both in terms of the courts and the balls, and we players cannot stand still. We have to keep growing.”

_{^{Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz practise side by side in New York. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour}}

The five-time major champion’s desire to ‘keep growing’ is also directly inspired by Sinner, his ultimate rival for the last two big titles on Tour. Despite leading their Lexus ATP Head2Head 9-5, Alcaraz knows how dangerous the World No. 1 is, and how real the possibility of another clash with him is in the final at Flushing Meadows.

“It would be incredible,” acknowledged Alcaraz. “He has won the last three Grand Slams on hard courts. The level of tennis he’s producing on these surfaces is stunning, and in a way I take it as the benchmark so that I’m ready if I have to face him. Hopefully we’ll meet in the final. It would be a great result to play well here... and if I beat him, even better.

“He has a big target on his back right now.”

Although the Spaniard’s tug of war with Sinner continues to be the dominant story on Tour, the relationship they maintain both on and off the court is unique, a fact that makes the rivalry all the more remarkable.

“I think the respect we have and our good relationship off court is what makes it special,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously, everyone sees what we can do every time we play each other; we take our level to the max. But it’s not very common to have such a good relationship off the court when the rivalry is so strong on it, and I think that’s what makes it so special.”