"It'd be great if it was like Rafa & Roger": Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner discuss rising rivalry

Saturday, 07 October 2023 at 21:00

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner talked about their rivalry and what the future holds for them.

One of the most anticipated matchups for fans in every tournament is the possibility of seeing the two biggest young stars currently facing off. With a head-to-head record of 4-3 in favor of Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian seems to be a tough opponent for Alcaraz. Sinner has defeated the 2-time Grand Slam champion more times than any other player so far.

In closely contested matches, they played in the semifinals of the ATP 500 Beijing Open this week. The first set was hotly contested, but Sinner dominated in the second and ended up winning the match 7-6, 6-1.

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Recently, both responded to an interview regarding the rivalry they have created and the potential future of their matchups. Carlos Alcaraz was the first to speak about his rival.

“Honestly, it would be great if it was like Rafa & Roger. It would be the dream you know, of ourselves and of course from the tennis fans I think. But I don’t know: Rafa/Roger. Roger/Djokovic. Djokovic/Rafa. Whatever it is,” world No. 2 said.

The current World No. 4, Sinner, also expressed his expectations for a great rivalry but was cautious in acknowledging Djokovic as Carlos's primary rival now.

“What I think and feel is that at the moment the rivalry against me and Carlos (Alcaraz), we played against, I won’t say many times, but we played already a couple of meetings and once it goes his way and once my way. So we have a very even scoring and this makes t happen that every time we step on court, both of us can win,” Sinner said.

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“In the other way I feel he’s achieved many things more than me at the moment. I think at the moment the biggest rivalry he has is with Novak, because of certain circumstances of points and world No. 1 and Grand Slams throughout the last 2 years,” he added.

“This is what I think, in the future we never know, because there are so many other players, young players. Daniil (Medvedev) is playing incredible tennis, Sascha Zverev) s back at 100%, Holger (Rune) and Musetti. There are so many great players, I can´t tell you what the rivalry will be, I would love to,” Sinner concluded.

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Alcaraz & Sinner on their rivalry Carlos: “It’d be great if it was like Rafa & Roger. Rafa/Roger. Roger/Djokovic. Djokovic/Rafa. Whatever it is” Jannik: “I feel he’s achieved more than me at the moment. I think the biggest rivalry he has is with Novak”

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9:57 AM · Oct 7, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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