In the fiercely competitive world of professional tennis, the relationship between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner stands out for its intriguing blend of rivalry and friendship. The recent inauguration of a court named after Alcaraz at coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s tennis academy in Spain was a testament to their unique bond, with Sinner, Alcaraz’s rival on the court, assuming the role of videomaker for the occasion. Despite their intense rivalry during matches, these two young stars share a deep mutual respect and camaraderie off the court, fostering a compelling narrative within the tennis world.
Speaking about their on-court battles, Sinner emphasized the intense emotions that accompany their matchups. “Every time when I play against him, I feel like we both try and push ourselves to the limit,” Sinner revealed in an interview with atptour.com. “Both of us obviously hate losing, especially against each other. We have a very good relationship off the court. I feel like we are good friends, but still on court you feel a little bit nervous because you want to win. You hate losing.”
Beyond the competitive arena, Sinner expressed the joy he finds in sharing the court with Alcaraz, highlighting the significance of their matches and the attention they draw. “It’s obviously a huge pleasure to share the court with him,” Sinner remarked. “We both are very young, and we also feel like when we play, many people are watching. In this way, I always try to look forward to these matches.”
Looking ahead, Alcaraz echoed Sinner’s sentiments, expressing his eagerness for potential future battles against his rival. “Every match that we face each other is an amazing match,” Alcaraz stated. “He is one of those guys who are able to win a Grand Slam. I think he’s going to reach the No. 1 in 2024 or he’s going to give himself the chance to reach the No. 1.”
Despite their competitive drive on the court, the friendship and respect between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner shine through, creating a unique narrative that adds depth and intrigue to their rivalry, making their matchups eagerly anticipated events within the world of professional tennis.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
At the moment ranked no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 18th
of November when he was defeated by world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).Until now, during this year Alcaraz has achieved a composed 65-12 win-loss record. The Spaniard has won 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was the runner-up in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Jannik Sinner in 2023
At the moment ranked no.4 (career-high), Jannik played his last match on the 26th of November when he defeated world no.12 Alex De Minaur 6-3 6-0 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
Currently, during this season Jannik has achieved a 64-15 match record. Jannik conquered 4 titles in 2023 in Montpellier, Toronto, Beijing and Vienna. The Italian got to the final in Rotterdam, Miami and the Nitto ATP Finals.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner fought against each other 8 times. Their current head to head is 4-4. Before, the last time they locked horns, Jannik Sinner won 7-6(4) 6-1 in the semifinal in Beijing (China Open) on the 3rd of October 2023.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.