Sinner, on his rivalry with Alcaraz: “The contrasts are fascinating. Maybe they see me as the disciplined champion and Carlos as the extravagant one. It’s nice to have someone who pushes you to the limit”
With permission from other players with the ability to butt into the conversation, Carlos Alcarazwith seven Grand Slams at 23 years old, and Jannik Sinnerwinner of five ‘greats’ at 25, are called to dominate world tennis in the coming years and develop a rivalry similar to the one they maintained Roger Federer (20 majors), Rafa Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (24) in its heyday.
This season that duel (10-7 in total in favor of the Murcian) has been limited to a single match, the final of Monte Carlo won by Sinner, due to injuries to the Spaniard and the Italian, absent from the circuit since he revalidated his title. Wimbledon last July.
Alcaraz was almost five months without playing due to the wrist injury and now he is back to try to shine in the last tournaments, but he will not run into Jannik either because he has already announced that he will not return until 2027.
I would like to erase what I felt the day I left home, the pain of saying goodbye to my father at 13 years old. I was crying about the breakup, so was he. I could do without that day, it was too intense an emotion
World No. 1 tennis player
In one interview in the magazine ‘U’ of La ReppublicaSinner has referred to this rivalry with Alcaraz, pointing out the diversity that exists between the two, something that also happened between the members of the ‘Big Three’.
“We are not all the same, the contrasts are fascinating. Maybe they see me as the disciplined and tenacious champion and Carlos as the Mediterranean and extravagant. That’s the beautiful thing, having someone who pushes you to the limit. And tennis has always been nourished by this, since Borg-McEnroe until Sampras-Agassi and the three-way rivalry with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic,” says Sinner.
“I’m not a noisy person. Furthermore, I’m teetotal, I can’t stand the taste of alcohol, at most I drink a little champagne or white wine,” says the Italian at another point in the interview.
Sinner is clear about what he would choose if he could erase a single day from his life. “It wouldn’t be a sporting moment, nor would the defeat against Alcaraz in the final of Roland Garros 2025 nor the semifinal against Djokovic in Melbourne at the beginning of the year. “It was something that didn’t happen on the track,” says Jannik before giving his answer.
“I would like to erase what I felt the day I left home, the pain of saying goodbye to my father at 13 years old, in Milanbecause our paths were separating and a thread was breaking. We separated, I cried about the breakup, but so did he. I could do without that day, it was too intense an emotion,” Sinner confesses.
“Perhaps that helped me find balance, although I suffered. It made me understand that making a decision involves gaining new things and losing others. There may be pain, but also the awareness that such a costly decision should not be in vain. You have to do everything possible to fulfill it as best as possible, without regrets. With commitment, perseverance and work,” adds the world No. 1.
Jannik also gives a very personal answer when asked about a moment he would like to relive, even romantic considering the climactic moments he has already experienced at the top of tennis.
“The purity of a winter Sunday skiing with my friends in the Dolomites“answers the Italian, who was aiming to be a professional skier before opting for the racket. “The feeling of a beautiful day doing something you enjoy. A group of children wanting to have fun. I would also include any time with my family and a karting session near Cuneo with the driver Antonio Giovinazzi and the cyclist Giulio Ciccone. I like speed, it’s no secret. “I need adrenaline to chase away boredom,” says Sinner, still not wanting to think about writing his biography.
I know that Serena Williams, Sharapova, Agassi, McEnroe, Nadal and Borg have already written their biography, but I am still young and prefer blows to words, maybe we will talk about this again in 20 years. I want to last, have a long career
World No. 1 tennis player
“I don’t even think about it. I know that Serena Williams, Sharapova, Agassi, McEnroe, Nadal and Borg They have already written it, but I am still young and I prefer blows to words, maybe we will talk about this again in 20 years. I want to last, have a long career. Now I have had to stop and raise my head above the lines, but I want to lower it back to the ball. I know there is beyond, but mine is here, in that rectangle called tennis,” he concludes. Sinnerwhich smells of happiness. “I would say it smells like dessert because I love sweets.”
