"Just because you dab someone up and smile doesn’t mean you’re really close friends" - Sinner and Alcaraz friendship pushed out of proportion by media

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's rivalry has been one of the main talking points in tennis over 2025. Regularly brought up in discussions and debates, the pair have separated themselves from everyone else in terms of class. It is not just their battles on court, but their friendship off it which has caught the attention of many.

Many clips over the year have circulated of them either having friendly chats ahead of events and matches, making jokes with one another and even rallying and practicing together. When competing against each other, they have put on some show-stopping displays in some of the biggest tournaments in the world. The pair have each had their bragging rights at certain times throughout the season, but it is Alcaraz who sits as the number one heading into 2026.

On the Nothing Major Show, this was something brought up which offered contrasting views between the hosts and former American tennis stars. While Jack Sock, John Isner and Steve Johnson believed the pair were not as close as everyone thinks, Sam Querrey thinks that everything seen between them is real and they are good buddies.

When asked a question based on the topic, Sock instantly agreed. "I think Carlos would be more open to it based on personality. I think Jannik seems very closed off to his bubble and to his people," Sock stated. "Tennis fans loved the Roger–Rafa narrative — and they were good friends — and because they're retired now, people are feening for that so much that they're pushing this."

Isner backed this argument up by explaining the impact the media have to do with it. "Every tournament, every week on social media: 'Oh, Carlos and Jannik, look at this interaction they had passing each other on the practice court.' Just because you dab someone up and smile doesn’t mean you’re really close friends. Maybe it turns into that over the years with the rivalry — but right now, I think it’s being pushed way harder than reality."

"I think in 10 years, these guys will be really close. But right now, they’re fighting each other for their spot in the sport’s legacy and history," Johnson believed, once again comparing it to Federer-Nadal. "Same with Roger and Rafa: once they got older and could look back with some practicality on what they did, they became really close. But in the moment? I don’t think Roger and Rafa in 2009, 2010, 2012 were that close. Roger was probably kind of annoyed Rafa kept winning French Opens."

He admitted that he wished the duo did not get along from an entertainment and rivalry point of view. "I think Carlos and Jannik are friends — I don’t think they dislike one another, which I wish they did because that would make for great drama. But in 10–15 years, when they look back and each have 20 Slams, they’ll have a Roger–Rafa type friendship," he said.

Querrey disagreed with his compatriots. He believed that the pair were actually very good friends like portrayed on a number of occasions away from the court but admitted that it would be better if they were not on good terms.

"I think they are good friends. I really do. I think it’d be better for ratings if they weren’t good friends — that would be great. They could really push that narrative if they didn’t like each other. But I think they are friendly. I don’t have a concrete reason — just looking at the photos, trophy ceremonies… they look super comfortable around each other. That’s just what I believe," Querrey said.