Rivalries: Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz | ATP Tour

Rivalries

Rivalries: Alcaraz vs. Sinner

Alcaraz leads Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence 5-4

October 01, 2024

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will conflict within the China Open ultimate Wednesday, marking simply the second time that they’ve met with a champion’s trophy on the road.

Their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry has quickly blossomed into one of the gripping rivalries in current reminiscence. Possessing thunderous ballstriking and unimaginable agility, Alcaraz and Sinner have incessantly clashed on the largest levels and are poised to take action lots within the subsequent decade.

The subsequent version of Sinner vs. Alcaraz will occur on Beijing soil, the place the Italian defeated the Spaniard final yr within the semi-finals en path to the ATP 500 title. However Alcaraz has gained their two conferences since, taking a 5-4 lead of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence. Forward of the pair’s third assembly in 2024, ATPTour.com displays on all 9 matches within the thrilling rivalry.

Roland Garros 2024, SF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Each stars entered the Roland Garros semi-finals eager to succeed in their first ultimate on the clay-court main. Alcaraz and Sinner had every entered the match with an harm concern, however discovered their type and labored their approach to the final 4.

Sinner got here flying out of the gates, surging to a set-and-a-break benefit. However because the Italian started to make extra unforced errors, Alcaraz raised his degree to flip the momentum of the match.

The Italian suffered from cramp in his hand and arm early within the third set, however managed to dig deep to take a two-sets-to-one benefit. From there, Alcaraz once more turned the match round and his potential to maneouvre himself into successful positions in rallies proved the distinction. 

The Spaniard hit 65 winners in comparison with 39 for Sinner, and rallied to succeed in the ultimate after 4 hours and 9 minutes.

Whereas it was a disappointing loss for Sinner, the 22-year-old was already assured to climb to No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings for the primary time on the Monday after the match.

BNP Paribas Open 2024, SF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Sinner entered his semi-final conflict towards Alcaraz on the BNP Paribas in March unbeaten on the season. The Italian was an ideal 16-0 on the yr, having gained his maiden main title on the Australian Open in January.

Sinner had performed flawlessly by means of the primary three months of the season and entered the match as slight favorite with Alcaraz stepping onto court docket 11-3 on the yr. The 22-year-old’s favorite tag appeared justified after the opening set, with Sinner cruising right into a 6-1 lead. Sinner produced the proper begin, hitting six winners to Alcaraz’s one, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz didn’t give up. The Spaniard fought by means of the opening recreation of set two and earned a vital maintain to stem the tide. He eradicated the early errors that plagued him within the opening set and started to search out his footing in lengthy rallies, discovering larger selection to degree. The 21-year-old continued to combine up his ways within the ultimate set and misplaced simply three factors on serve in a one-sided decider. By shifting again to “Medvedev territory” on return, he damage Sinner with large cuts to start the purpose and sometimes started the rallies on the entrance foot.

After two hours and 5 minutes, Alcaraz sealed victory on his third match level to finish Sinner’s unbeaten begin to the season. Together with his win, Alcaraz superior to his his sixth ATP Masters 1000 ultimate (4-1), denying Sinner his fourth on the time (1-2). It was Alcaraz’s first tour-level ultimate since he misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the earlier August in a Cincinnati epic; he had been 0-4 in semi-finals since that defeat.

“I stayed robust mentally,” stated Alcaraz, who pointed to his head after the win. “I believe that is a extremely vital half on this recreation. It’s important to be robust mentally if you wish to overcome these sort of matches, a set down towards somebody that is enjoying an unbelievable recreation. I am actually pleased with the issues that I’ve finished after that.

“I modified my model a little bit bit, I modified my recreation a little bit bit and I believe it labored very effectively. I am actually glad to beat Jannik and be within the ultimate once more.”

Alcaraz then confronted Medvedev within the ultimate, cruising to a straight units win to clinch his fifth Masters 1000 title.

_{^{Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs}}

China Open 2023, SF, Sinner d. Alcaraz 7-6(4), 6-1
After Alcaraz gained 7-4 tie-breaks to open every of their earlier two matches, Sinner claimed the opening-set tie-break by the identical scoreline on the China Open.

In a marathon opening body, Sinner twice got here again from a break down. He started to take management by shifting Alcaraz across the baseline and successful all 15 of his web factors within the set.

After navigating a tense opening to the second set, combating off 5 break factors throughout his first two service video games, Sinner sprinted by means of the end line.

“For positive within the very prime [of the big matches I’ve played],” the Italian stated of the win. “I might say each match towards him could be very powerful. We at all times present nice respect, we each play nice. Once we play towards one another, we attempt to keep on our limits.”

Sinner adopted up the victory by beating Medvedev within the Beijing ultimate to assert his fourth tour-level title of the season, equalling his personal-best tally from 2021.

Miami Open introduced by Itau, SF, Sinner d. Alcaraz 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2
Two weeks after their Indian Wells showdown, Sinner gained swift revenge with a comeback victory on the Miami Open introduced by Itau. In a show-stopping semi-final, Sinner gained one of many factors of the yr: an action-packed 25-ball rally that ended with a fragile, dipping passing shot to carry the group to its ft.

Regardless of that second of magic — and early leads in all three units — Sinner was on the ropes when he confronted two break factors at 3-4 within the second. However the Italian answered the bell with a match-changing surge, successful 19 of 21 factors to take the set and construct a 2-0 lead within the decider.

Alcaraz seemed to be struggling bodily early in set three, however he willed his approach to one ultimate push. In the long run, his 22 winners weren’t sufficient to beat 28 off the racquet of his opponent.

“It means loads. We each performed a really, very excessive degree of tennis once more. I simply tried my finest,” Sinner stated after advancing to his second Miami ultimate. “We each tried to play very aggressive tennis and at the moment it went my means so I am very glad.”

Sinner was crushed by Daniil Medvedev within the Miami ultimate however went on to win his first ATP Masters 1000 title later within the season in Toronto.

BNP Paribas Open 2023, SF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3
Alcaraz captured his third ATP Masters 1000 crown on the BNP Paribas Open in 2023, returning to No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings following his triumph. The Spaniard didn’t drop a set en path to the title, however was pushed the toughest by Sinner within the pair’s semi-final conflict in Indian Wells.

In one other entertaining battle, the majority of the drama got here in a back-and-forth opening set as Sinner took full benefit of a dip in degree from his opponent to show a 2-4 deficit right into a 5-4 lead, successful 11 straight factors within the course of. Sinner stored the stress on to create a set level at 6-5, however a uniquely Alcaraz mixture — large serve, drop shot, volley winner — erased the prospect and ensured the set can be determined in a tie-break.

Inspired by his escape, the Spaniard powered by means of the tie-break and carried his momentum into set two, when he consolidated an early break with a point-of-the-season contender, planting a topspin lob on the baseline after a Sinner dipper pressured him to retreat from the online. He later wriggled out of 0/30 to carry for 5-2, and served out the match with ease behind a pair of punishing forehand winners.

“I am actually glad to get by means of this nice match. Jannik clearly is a extremely nice participant with nice pictures,” Alcaraz stated. “I might say we’ll have an excellent rivalry over time. We’re enjoying in one of the best tournaments on the earth. It isn’t over right here. We’re going to play numerous nice matches.”

US Open 2022, QF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3
In one of many matches of the 2022 season, Alcaraz and Sinner battled late into the New York evening. Throughout 5 hours and quarter-hour of twists and turns, the one fixed was elite tennis and tireless effort from each males. Alcaraz and Sinner took turns lighting up Arthur Ashe Stadium, flashing their super athleticism and energy in equal measures.

Sinner dominated the third-set tie-break to take a two-sets-to-one lead and carried his momentum into the fourth set as he scored an on the spot break. However the fearless Alcaraz erased a match level with Sinner serving at 5-4 and went on a run of 4 straight video games to power a fifth set. Once more trailing by a break, the Spaniard repeated that feat by successful 4 video games in a row within the fifth set to assert victory at 2:50 a.m.

“Truthfully, I nonetheless do not understand how I did it,” Alcaraz stated. “It’s important to imagine in your self. I believed in my recreation. It was actually troublesome to shut out the match. I attempted to remain calm, however it’s troublesome within the second.

“The power I acquired on this court docket at 3 a.m., it was unbelievable. Most likely in different tournaments, everyone [would go] to their home to relaxation. However they [stayed] within the court docket, supporting me. It was unbelievable.”

Alcaraz went on to assert his first main title at Flushing Meadows and by doing so he grew to become the youngest World No. 1 within the historical past of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag 2022, Remaining, Sinner d. Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1
Going through off in a championship match for the primary time, it was Sinner who recovered from dropping the opening set to spoil Alcaraz’s title defence in Croatia.

An important maintain of serve within the second recreation of the second set was essential to Sinner’s triumph. Already going through stress after falling a set behind, the Italian fended off six break factors in that recreation alone, stopping a possible runaway victory for Alcaraz. Sinner broke the Spaniard’s serve instantly within the subsequent recreation and charged to the ATP 250 crown.

“That was a vital level [of the match],” stated Sinner. “I knew I needed to keep there. I used to be very glad that I gained this recreation. Then I returned effectively and raised my degree a little bit bit, and I believe I discovered an answer then.”

_{^{Photograph Credit score: Croatia Open Umag}}

Wimbledon 2022, Fourth Spherical, Sinner d. Alcaraz 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3
Simply hours after Wimbledon regarded again to rejoice the a centesimal anniversary of Centre Court docket, Sinner and Alcaraz offered a glimpse of the long run with their first Grand Slam assembly within the fourth spherical.

Within the first Centre Court docket match for each, Sinner overwhelmed Alcaraz together with his pure ball-striking and had two match factors to wrap up a straight-sets win earlier than Alcaraz discovered his rhythm to take the third-set tie-break. After changing on his fourth set level, the Spaniard raised his racquet, soaking within the crowd’s roar.

Because the match grew extra bodily, Sinner stemmed the tide with two battling holds to open the fourth set, then scored the decisive break to edge ever nearer to his third main quarter-final. After lacking out on three additional match factors on return at 5-3, Sinner saved a break level as he served out one of the entertaining matches of the fortnight. A forehand winner — Sinner’s thirty fifth of the match — accomplished the victory after three hours and 35 minutes.

“Carlos is a really powerful opponent and a really good particular person, so it’s at all times an enormous pleasure for me to play towards him,” stated Sinner, who would fall to Novak Djokovic in 5 units within the quarter-finals.

_{^{Photograph Credit score: Adrian Dennis/Getty Photographs}}

Rolex Paris Masters 2021, Second Spherical, Alcaraz d. Sinner 7-6(1), 7-5
“I believe Jannik and I’ll have an excellent rivalry sooner or later,” was a near-prophetic remark from Alcaraz after he upset World No. 9 Sinner of their first tour-level assembly.

Alcaraz, then 18 years outdated and World No. 35 within the PIF ATP Rankings, showcased his courageous shot choice and heavy hitting to down the eighth seed Sinner, who was competing as a Prime 10 participant for the primary time that week. Alcaraz created 11 break probabilities, changing two of them, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.

Court docket 1 on the Rolex Paris Masters will without end be the stomping grounds of the Alcaraz vs. Sinner rivalry, although the Spaniard had beforehand crushed the Italian 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 as an unranked 15-year-old on his ATP Challenger Tour debut at Alicante in April 2019, when Sinner was World No. 319.