The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is quickly gaining attention, with some even drawing comparisons to the legendary Federer-Nadal rivalry. Despite being in the early stages of their careers, both players have already earned respect and admiration for their incredible skills. Alcaraz, in particular, has shown his appreciation for Sinner’s consistency and dominance on the court.

Alcaraz’s Respect for Sinner

In a recent interview in Rotterdam, Alcaraz spoke highly of Sinner, calling him “the best right now.” He emphasized Sinner’s impressive record, having lost only four or five matches in the past year, which is “crazy.” Alcaraz disagreed with tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s assessment of him being better than Sinner, saying:

“I don’t agree with what Mouratoglou said. Jannik will have lost 4/5 matches in a year, he has no ups and downs. In every tournament he participates in, he either reaches the final or lifts the trophy.”

Sinner’s Consistent Dominance

Both Alcaraz and Sinner enjoyed success last year, with Alcaraz winning both the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz also improved his head-to-head record against Sinner to 6-4, having beaten him three times in their past meetings. Meanwhile, Sinner’s impressive run included winning 73 out of 79 matches, including triumphs at the U.S. Open and defending his Australian Open title.

Sympathy for Sinner’s Withdrawal

Alcaraz also expressed sympathy for Sinner after he withdrew from the ATP tournament in Rotterdam. Alcaraz, who is set to face Dutch wild card Botic van de Zandschulp, understands how tough it is to stay healthy after a major tournament, particularly after reaching the final stages of a Grand Slam. Alcaraz commented:

“I understand, I know how difficult it is to stay healthy after a Slam where you go all the way. I guess he didn’t feel ready to play another tournament so soon, which was smart.”

Both Alcaraz and Sinner have shown incredible promise, and as their rivalry develops, it’s clear that this could become one of the most exciting matchups in tennis history.