"If we used foul language with each other, it would definitely attract a lot of attention," Alcaraz shared in an interview with the Financial Times on 4/8. "Many people enjoy the idea of us having friction. Tennis is an individual sport and there are intense rivalries. But my relationship with Sinner is much better."
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Alcaraz (right) and Sinner after the Wimbledon final on Centre Court at the All England Club, London, England, 16/7/2025. Photo: Reuters |
Alcaraz (right) and Sinner after the Wimbledon final on Centre Court at the All England Club, London, England, 16/7/2025. Photo: Reuters
Alcaraz and Sinner recently faced each other in two consecutive Grand Slam finals, splitting the titles. They are gradually replacing the "Big 3" who have dominated major events, especially Grand Slams. According to the world number two, today's media boom makes it easier for players to earn money if they know how to promote themselves. But he and Sinner won't resort to tricks to boost their image.
"Sinner and I have had some great battles recently," the Spanish player said. "We also see each other often off the court, practicing and chatting together. Our relationship is really good, even though we both want to beat each other. Overall, we clearly distinguish between competition on the court and life off it. That's the value that sport brings."
Both Alcaraz and Sinner are currently on a break before returning to prepare for the North American hard court swing, culminating in the US Open later this month. Sinner will arrive in New York as the defending champion, while Alcaraz is the 2022 champion.
"I need to recharge after a busy summer of competition," Alcaraz shared. "The competition with Sinner is very beneficial; it helps me improve. I give 100% in training sessions just to get better and have a chance to beat him. The level required to beat Sinner now is very high."
Alcaraz added that he and Sinner don't need to imitate the "Big 3" to create a new era of dominance. The 22-year-old acknowledged that the pressure would increase if they focused too much on the legacy left by the legendary trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. "It would be foolish for us to worry about comparisons with our very successful predecessors," he said.
Alcaraz has won 21 titles in 28 finals since the start of his career, including five Grand Slams and seven Masters 1000s. Sinner's statistics are similar, with 20 titles, including four Grand Slams, four Masters 1000s, and one ATP Finals. Alcaraz currently leads their head-to-head rivalry 8-5 after 13 matches.
Vy Anh
