Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Speak Candidly About Their Rivalry and Relationship After Six Kings Slam Clash

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz opened up about their fierce rivalry and mutual respect following their intense final showdown at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.

Sinner triumphed over Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 to win the exhibition tournament in Riyadh, taking home an unprecedented $6 million — the highest prize money ever awarded in tennis history.

Sinner’s Victory in Riyadh

Despite losing the opening set on a tiebreak after surrendering a 4-1 lead, Sinner broke Alcaraz three times in the second set and once more in the third to claim a commanding victory. However, this win will not affect their ATP head-to-head record, as the match was an exhibition event.

Alcaraz still leads their official head-to-head, with a 6-4 record, having won all three of their ATP encounters in 2024.

Alcaraz Reflects on the Rivalry

In his post-match interview, Carlos Alcaraz shared his thoughts on how he sees his rivalry with Sinner evolving:

“I will practise and try as hard as I can. I’m sure Jannik is gonna be there. I’ll try to do my best every day during the years. Hopefully, it makes this rivalry better and better over time,” Alcaraz said.

He went on to express his gratitude for having Sinner as a rival:

“Thanks to him, I push myself to the limit. I give my 100% every day to be a better player. It’s a pleasure every time I share the court with him. Sometimes it’s tough to find the joy. But it’s great every time I face him.”

Sinner’s Thoughts on the Rivalry and Friendship

Sinner, too, reflected on their competitive yet friendly relationship, admitting that Alcaraz motivates him daily:

“I wake up in the morning trying to understand the ways to beat him,” Sinner said. “These kinds of rivalries push us to our 100% limit. I’m happy about today.”

He added that while they share a friendship, there are still boundaries:

“We understand each other. We travel a lot. I would say we are good friends. Not the best of the best. But we like to share every time we go on court.”

The Future of Their Rivalry

Sinner expressed hope that their rivalry will continue for years to come:

“Every match has been very, very good. Hopefully, this rivalry will last as long as possible. But there are so many other players who can jump in. Let’s see what’s coming in the future.”