During a recent interview, Jannik Sinner was asked to respond to Roger Federer’s famous remark that he’d prefer to face someone easier than Rafael Nadal. The question was then extended to whether Sinner feels similarly about Carlos Alcaraz, one of the most formidable opponents in today’s game.

Honest and Playful Response

Sinner’s answer was both candid and lighthearted. “Yes and no. That’s what Roger said. We all think the same way,” he admitted with a laugh. His response captured the shared sentiment among top players who recognize the difficulty of facing elite competitors while also embracing the challenge.

Embracing the Battle

Despite acknowledging the natural desire for less demanding matchups, Sinner emphasized his love for competition. “I love these challenges. I love to put myself in these positions,” he said. His words reflect a mindset focused on growth and resilience, even when the odds are stacked against him.

Respect for Alcaraz

Sinner didn’t shy away from praising Alcaraz’s impact on the court. “He’s someone who pushes me to the limit,” he noted, highlighting the intensity and quality of their encounters. The respect between rising stars is evident, and their rivalry continues to shape the future of men’s tennis.

Sinner at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Ranked world no.1, Jannik achieved an overall 37-4 win-loss record in 2025. The Italian is playing at the U.S. Open where he conquered the world no.89 Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-1 6-2, the world no.36 Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-2 6-2, the world no.29 Denis Shapovalov 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3

, the world no.24 Alexander Bublik 6-1 6-1 6-1, the world no.10 Lorenzo Musetti 6-1 6-4 6-2 and the world no.27 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Jannik Sinner will square off with the world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Their actual head to head record is 10-5 for Alcaraz.

Sinner clinched 2 titles in 2025 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Jannik was the finalist in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia), at the French Open and in Cincinnati (Cincinnati Open).

The Italian won 21 titles in his career: 10 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Now ranked no.2, the Spaniard has an overall 60-6 win-loss record in 2025. Alcaraz is playing at the U.S. Open where he beat the world no.67 Reilly Opelka 6-4 7-5 6-4, the world no.65 Mattia Bellucci 6-1 6-0 6-3, the world no.34 Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-4 6-0, the world no.82 Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(3) 6-3 6-4, the world no.21 Jiri Lehecka 6-4 6-2 6-4 and the world no.7 Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6(4) 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz will square off with the world no.1 Jannik Sinner in the final. Their actual head to head record is 10-5 for Alcaraz.

Alcaraz conquered 6 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London and Cincinnati. The Spaniard was the finalist in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell) and in Wimbledon.

Alcaraz won 23 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 11 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz clashed against each other 15 times. The head to head is 10-5 for Alcaraz.