Sinner: 'I was too predictable' vs. Alcaraz

Despite the disappointment of seeing his 19-match winning streak snapped, Jannik Sinner maintained a generally positive attitude following his semi-final loss to Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Open. The Italian called it "a tough one to swallow" but said he had already shifted his focus to Miami, where he will be defending finalist points in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Looking back on his eighth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Alcaraz in his post-match press conference, there was one key element to his tactics that left Sinner with regret.

"What I missed today is that I was too predicatable at some points," he said, an analysis seconded by coach Darren Cahill. " I was doing the same things over and over again, which in my mind let me down.

"I was playing really good the first set. Then after, when you see your opponent struggling a little bit, I tried to stay solid instead of trying to move [him] around. So I was too predictable at some points. I think that's the lesson for today. We will work on certain things, and hopefully I will get better."

Sinner also rued a few too many missed forehands when he stepped in to attack. But he was quick to acknowledge the quality of the match as a whole, after a thrilling two hours and five minutes of first-class tennis on one of the game's biggest stages.

"I think it was still a great match," he said. "I think we both played really good. There were some entertaining rallies... He deserved today to win, and I wish him good luck in the final."

The Italian also provided an update on his physical condition after a match full of thrills and spills — most notably, an awkward tumble from Sinner on a break point early in the final set.

"At the moment, I feel a little bit everything on my body," he said with a smile. "But it's normal. It's sport. You have to accept this.

"I had some problems, just small problems, but it was OK throughout until the third set. Then when I fell, I felt a little bit the elbow because I fell over the elbow and I rolled over. So it was for me after tough to serve."

Whatever struggles he had on his side of the net, Sinner repeatedly heaped praise on Alcaraz for his performance in the comeback win.

"He makes things very difficult to play obviously," said the Italian. "He puts a lot of pressure on you. He changed a couple of things today, like, tactically, which I have to watch out for the next time. I have to improve couple of things and trying to beat him again.

"I think that's also the good and positive side of this sport."

In addition to their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry on the court, which is now knotted at 4-4, Sinner and Alcaraz are also jockeying for position in the PIF ATP Rankings. Sinner missed out on an opportunity to move ahead of Alcaraz for World No. 2 with a win on Saturday, but could have another chance to leapfrog his rival in Miami.