“I love to find solutions” – Alcaraz eager for Sinner semi-final in Paris
The match everyone has been waiting for at Roland-Garros is here, and Carlos Alcaraz couldn’t be more excited to take on Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024 | © Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Just minutes after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday, Carlos Alcaraz was speaking about his upcoming clash with Jannik Sinner in the Roland-Garros semi-finals.
When the tournament’s draw was first announced, it was the match everyone had circled. And now, Alcaraz v Sinner is happening. With Novak Djokovic withdrawing from Roland-Garros injured on the other side of the draw, it’s a match that feels like a final.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Alcaraz can’t wait to put on a show.
“I love these kind of matches,” the third seed said following his quarter-final victory. “I love this kind of challenge, you know, to have a really difficult battle against him. The previous matches that we’ve played I think it was like that, and I love that.”
“Hopefully everyone are going to enjoy that match as much as I’m going to do it.”
Alcaraz full of praise for Sinner’s game
Just as Tsitsipas spoke highly of Alcaraz’s game after their match, Alcaraz only had good things to say about Sinner as he looks ahead to their semi-final.
“I think he has nothing bad,” declared the Spaniard. “Everything he does, he does it perfectly.
“The way that he hit the ball is unbelievable. The way he moves, it’s really, really well. He push you to the limit in every ball, in every point. I think it is the hardest thing to face Jannik.”
“He probably is one of the most difficult challenge that we can face in tennis right now. I think he’s the best player in the world,” Alcaraz said, before laughing as he realised that Sinner is now officially the No 1 tennis player in the world.
Adapting key for Alcaraz against Sinner
At the same time, Alcaraz’s recent success against Sinner gives him confidence that he’ll be able to overcome the Italian’s challenge.
The pair met less than two months ago in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters, with Alcaraz prevailing in three sets.
“I love to find solutions, to find a way to beat him the way that I did in Indian Wells,” Alcaraz reveals. “For example, that 6-1 in the first set, and then I found a way to make him in trouble. I think those situations is great for tennis to try to find the right ways, I would say.”
“It’s going to be an interesting one. As I said, the matches that we’ve played before has been unbelievable games. I think everybody wants to watch this match.
“When the draw came out, I think everybody wanted Jannik on my side playing the semi-final. Let’s see how it’s going to be, but I think it’s going to be great for tennis and for the fans.”
Alcaraz and Sinner share a 4-4 head-to-head, with the winner of this match moving through to the Roland-Garros final to play either Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur or Alexander Zverev.
