Alcaraz eyes another showdown against Sinner : “He’s the best tennis player in the world”

Get your popcorn ready for another chapter in the budding rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The two present and future stars will be facing each other for the ninth time in their careers when they meet again in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. They also squared off in the semis of this tournament last spring, when Alcaraz scored a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory on his way to the title.

Coinciding with Sinner’s meteoric rise is a pair of victories for the Italian over Alcaraz. The Italian prevailed 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 at the 2023 Miami Open and 7-6(4), 6-1 last fall in Beijing. Following that Beijing result, the head-to-head series is all tied up at four wins apiece (it’s 4-3 in Sinner’s favor if you don’t count a Challenger win for Alcaraz five years ago in Alicante).

He’s playing unbelievable…. I really enjoy watching him play. 

Carlos Alcaraz on Jannik Sinner

Both players — along with the entire tennis world — are eagerly anticipating another showdown in Tennis Paradise.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I’m gonna approach the match,” Alcaraz admitted. “He’s the best tennis player in the world right now, without a doubt…. He’s playing unbelievable — no losses this year. I really enjoy watching him play. So it’s going to be a really difficult match. It’s going to be a big challenge for me and see what is my level facing him.

“The last two matches that I have played against him I lost, so I have to adjust a little bit my game. Let’s see how it’s gonna be.”

SINNER ON A TEAR

It hasn’t been good for any opponent against Sinner in recent months. The world No 3 is on a 19-match winning streak and is 29-1 in his last 30 matches dating back to last fall. This stretch includes Davis Cup, Australian Open and Rotterdam titles. His only loss has come to Novak Djokovic (Nitto ATP Finals championship match), whom Sinner has defeated three times dating back to November of 2023.

Sinner may feel invincible at the moment, but he isn’t going to overlook Alcaraz — his biggest rival.

“It’s always fun to play with him,” Sinner assured. “We are good friends off the court. On the court, we just try to give 100 percent. I think we have a good attitude on court. Usually the matches are good. Last year against him, especially here on this court, I struggled a lot. He played much better than me; two weeks after I played Miami against him where I won, so let’s see.

“I think every player you struggle to beat, you have a point where you have to work on. There is not only Carlos; there are other players what made me grow as a player. When you reach this kind of level then, you have to work again for different stuff. For sure he might change a couple of things trying to beat me. I have to be ready. If he beats me, you have to work again on little details. I think that’s really good and nice to see.

“I reckon that’s what the past Big 3 or Big 4 or have done in a similar way. We try to do the same, no?”

So far, matches between Alcaraz and Sinner have certainly invoked memories of Big 3 rivalries of both the recent and more distant past. Expectations are high for another instant classic to be on the cards for Saturday afternoon.

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