We Are Not Close Friends

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 3, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have a “friendly rivalry,” but to call it a close friendship would be a mistake.

The Spaniard talked about his respect for Sinner – and described their friendship for reporters – after earning his third consecutive win over the Italian on Wednesday night in Beijing.

“We have a really good relationship off the court as well,” Alcaraz said. “I think we both respect each other a lot, as a player, as a person, but once we are on tour traveling, during tournaments when we are on site, we are with our team on our own, so we don’t speak too much.

“When we can, we talk a little bit besides tennis, about life a little bit, but not too much. We have a good relationship, but we are not close friends, but I think the respect that we have put us in a position that we have a really good relationship.”

No matter what the pair share off the court, there is no doubt that they spark electricity when they are across the net from one another. Their ten meetings have produced iconic moments, and their latest, a three hour and 20-minute cliffhanger won by Alcaraz 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), was further proof that tennis’ next great rivalry is far from overhyped.

“When Jannik and I face each other, playing against each other, I think it’s a really good thing for tennis because we always show a really intense match, really close match, great points, great rallies,” Alcaraz said. “I think for the people who don’t watch tennis, probably thanks to these kind of matches, [they] start to watch tennis or even practice it. I think it is pretty good.”

Joy Comes Back

A stunning upset loss to Botic Van de Zandschulp in the second round at the US Open left Alcaraz feeling drained in September. But some time off the court and a productive training block that included team events at Davis Cup and Laver Cup has helped the four-time major champion find his mojo again.

Alcaraz may only be 21, but it doesn’t mean he is immune to feeling the fatigue of a grueling season. After running the table at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, it’s no surprise that the Spaniard had a letdown. He says, at least for the time being, his energy is high.

“I had that really good month of practice after the American swing,” he said. “Of course, the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup helped me a lot to get the energy back, to get motivated again. Those competitions helped me a lot to get the joy back on the court, and, let’s say, being focused on what’s next. I came here to Asia with a lot of energy, enjoyin every single second that I step on the court, and that for me it’s really important.”

Alcaraz said his team helped him emotionally, as he reset his priorities and looked to finish the season strong.

“Thanks to them I started to get the joy back playing the matches, practicing, I got motivated again,” he said. “I really wanted to travel, to play tournaments again. Probably after the American swing, I was a little bit down, that I didn’t want to touch a racquet for a while. I didn’t want to travel, let’s say.

“After that we talked a lot during those days, knowing that I have to be back practicing, be stronger physically, be stronger mentally just to overcome those problems. The last month we’ve been working really, really hard on the court, off the court, just to be able to feel this moment again.”