Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have an on-court rivalry that Sinner describes as “like fire and nice,” and the Spaniard has been open about their mutual respect for one another.
They recently squared off in the 2024 China Open final, with the Spaniard pulling off an incredible victory 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3). Their three-hour and twenty-minute fight thrilled spectators and brought honours to a few sports legends.
In an interview with the media just before the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Sinner discussed the parallels and dissimilarities between himself and Alcaraz.
Sinner talked about it and said: “I feel like off the court we are quite similar because we surround ourselves with our close ones, we like to stay with the team. There are many, many similar things. On the court, we are different.”
Regarding the differences on the field, the Italian stated that he was composed and Alcaraz provided strength.
Sinner added: “He is the one who brings the firepower, the hot shots, he involves the crowd. He’s a bit different. I am more like a solid player who is quite calm, so it’s like fire and ice a bit. But it’s a nice combination. It also shows that everyone is different. I believe that I have to take something from him as a player, trying some different shots sometimes, which I feel makes me grow as a player.”
After ten meetings between Sinner and Alcaraz, the Spaniard has a 6-4 advantage. In their three meetings in 2024, Alcaraz won the final set in each of their three meetings.
Alcaraz was asked if they spent time together off the court before the Shanghai Masters. He said: “Well, we don’t talk too much when we are around, obviously. We have a really good relationship off the court as well. I think we both respect each other a lot, as a player, as a person, but once we are on tour travelling, you know, during tournaments when we are on-site, we are with our team on our own, so we don’t speak too much. When we can, we talk a little bit besides tennis, about life a little bit, but not too much. We have a good relationship, but we are not close friends, you know, but I think the respect that we have, you know, put us in a position that we have a really good relationship.”
Jannik Sinner says Carlos Alcaraz & him are like fire and ice:
“On the court, we are different. He’s the one who brings the firepower, the hotshots, he involves the crowd. I’m more like the solid player, quite calm. It’s like fire & ice.
🔥🧊
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 4, 2024
Alcaraz in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
WLWLLWLWWW Ranked world no.2, Carlos has an overall 49-9 record in 2024. The Spaniard is playing at the moment in Shanghai where he overcame Unknown Player bye and the world no.51 Juncheng Shang 6-2 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz will square off with the world no.357 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . In the past, they have never played each other as of now on the main tour.
Carlos conquered 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. Alcaraz got to the final in Paris (Olympics).
Carlos won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 28th of October.
Sinner in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Ranked world no.1, the Italian has a composed 60-6 win-loss record in 2024. The Italian is playing in Shanghai where he beat Unknown Player bye and the world no.93 Taro Daniel 6-1 6-4.
Jannik Sinner will fight against the world no.37 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the 3rd round on Sunday at 3:00 pm on STADIUM COURT. Their actual record is 1-0 for Sinner.
The Italian has won 6 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. Jannik was the runner-up in Beijing (China Open).
Jannik won 17 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner will compete next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 28th of October.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner faced off 11 times. Their actual record is 7-4 for Alcaraz. The last time they played each other, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing (China Open) on the 2nd of October 2024.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner |
| Embed from Getty Images |
