Jannik Sinner expressed on Saturday how his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, the top two ranked players globally, brings out their best performances. This statement followed Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. Sinner triumphed with a 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 win, securing the $6 million prize. He expressed a desire for a prolonged rivalry with Alcaraz, reminiscent of the famed Nadal-Djokovic duels, who faced each other for the last time in a match for third place earlier that day.
Reflecting on their competition, Sinner said, “I wake up in the morning trying to understand ways to beat him. These kinds of rivalries, these kinds of players, they push us always to our 100%.” The world number one added in a post-match interview, “Hopefully this rivalry will last as long as possible. But there are so many other great players who can jump in … let’s see what’s coming in the future,” he continued, noting the abundance of talented players ready to make their mark.
This year, both Italy’s Sinner and Spain’s Alcaraz have claimed two Grand Slam titles each. Notably, Alcaraz defeated Sinner in tightly contested matches at the French Open semi-finals and the China Open final.
The pair, who are friends away from the tennis court, have faced each other in 10 encounters on the ATP tour. The 21-year-old Alcaraz has claimed victory in six of these matches, including the most recent three. “I will do everything so that this rivalry gets better and better … I am happy to share the court with him,” remarked Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion.
