"Obviously, I’d love to see that final in Madrid" - Madrid Open tournament director shares wishes for Alcaraz-Sinner final while relieving pressure from world No.1

The blockbuster tie in men's tennis currently is between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Fireworks and drama on court always occur between the two brilliant tennis players who have made a trend of meeting in big finals in recent times, whether at Grand Slam or Masters 1000 level. As the clay swing is set to commence, Madrid Open tournament director Feliciano Lopez has made no secret of what he hopes will be the world number one and two facing off for the title in the Spanish capital.

The fourth Masters 1000 tournament of the year will have to wait for its turn in the spotlight. The Monte-Carlo Masters kicks off the action from April 5-12 with the Barcelona Open and BMW Open swiftly following the conclusion in Monaco.

Once they have all been played out, Madrid will be the centre of attention for both the men's and women's tournaments. It is a hugely significant event with it being great preparation for the second Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros and in turn has a lot of points on offer for a deep run.

Casper Ruud won the title last year. It was his first Masters 1000 triumph as he defeated Jack Draper in a hugely entertaining final, but not one everyone expected or even wanted. Home hero Alcaraz had planned to feature in the quest for a third title, but an ankle injury picked up on his way to the final in Barcelona cost him the chance to compete. As for Sinner, he was serving out the last weeks of his suspension and would return to the fray shortly after at the Rome Open.

Lopez, who is also the tournament director for the Davis Cup Finals, has not hidden his hope that an Alcaraz-Sinner final can occur in Madrid. Alcaraz alone would bring a lot of attention with the fact that he is Spanish, but to have his biggest rival play against him, possibly for the first time on the ATP Tour this year, would be marveled at by many.

“It would be fantastic,” Lopez told Radiogaceta de los Deportes en Radio Nacional Española, as reported by Punto de Break. “I mean, watching Sinner and Alcaraz play together is a real treat for any tennis fan. Last year, we had the bad luck of Carlitos getting injured in Barcelona playing the final against Rune, and Sinner was just finishing his suspension. Sinner started competing again right after Madrid; Rome was his first tournament. We’re really looking forward to welcoming them both. Obviously, I’d love to see that final in Madrid."

It would be added to a long list of high-calibre showdowns in this tournament. "We’ve seen the best of the best in Madrid: Novak vs. Federer, Rafa vs. Novak, Rafa vs. Federer, Carlos vs. Rafa in that last stage where Djokovic and Carlos also played. There was a fantastic match that lasted over three hours, I remember it perfectly."

He also expressed his excitement for three-time champion Novak Djokovic returning after his second round exit last year, also hinting towards an exciting women's tournament. “Djokovic has also expressed his intention to come, and then on the women’s side, to be honest, and trying to be fair, the best matches in recent years have been the women’s finals, specifically Swiatek vs. Sabalenka."

A lot of the attention, however, will be on the progress of Alcaraz and Sinner. There could be a lot riding on this tournament with the world number one spot possibly up for grabs. While both players will be defending nothing come Madrid, Alcaraz has 1000 points from Monaco before his final in Barcelona to earn back, leaving Sinner a chance to get back to the helm in the rankings.

Whatever the outcome, Lopez was excited for a fascinating tournament in store. “They were incredible matches that will be remembered in the tournament’s history," he stated. "So… Well, on the one hand, hopefully Sinner and Carlitos can be there, and on the other hand, hopefully we’ll continue to see those great matches on the women’s side that we’ve had lately.”

Alcaraz started the year like a rocket. He won the Australian Open and Qatar Open before extending his unbeaten streak to the Indian Wells semi-final. This was halted by Daniil Medvedev who ended any hope of picking up another title in California before a third round exit against Sebastian Korda in the Miami Open brought back flashbacks of a similar result against David Goffin in 2024.

Lopez brushed off the recent results of the world number one. “Look, on the one hand, it can happen to any player," he acknowledged. "In the end, tennis is a routine, monotonous sport, where the same thing happens every week."

He hinted at something away from tennis being the reason for the defeats in North America. “You see the same people, go to the same places, play at the same clubs, stay in the same hotels… I understand that a tennis player, at certain times, for whatever reason—perhaps being away from home for a while, having a personal problem—might feel the way Carlos felt in Miami. I understand that."

It was slightly surprising for Lopez, however, who had rated Alcaraz at a very high level. "What surprised me is that it happened to him when it did, when he’s experiencing the best moment of his career," he said. "Because in the last year and a half, in my opinion, Carlos has undergone a phenomenal transformation, especially mentally. He was already the best player in the world, battling with Sinner, one week you, the next me, but I think that in the last year and a half, his mental change has been incredible."

The former world number 12 was a fan of the way the 22-year-old came across, not afraid to share his real emotions, which possibly portrayed his current feelings. “So, I was surprised by the timing, because he’s having an incredible time," Lopez commented. "If you know Carlos a little, it’s not so surprising. Carlos is a person who, for better or for worse, is expressive and says what he thinks on the court while competing, in private conversations, and in press conferences. He speaks frankly and says what he thinks. I love people like that, who are upfront and say what they think."

A lot of this stemmed from when he went to his box and told his team, 'I want to go home,' enroute to losing against Korda. “It’s true, and I understand that for many people, seeing the world number one shout at his coach, ‘I want to go home,’ might be shocking. But if you put it in context and know the man a little, maybe it doesn’t seem so strange."

The pressure on his shoulders to live up to the hype that everyone has placed on him is no mean feat. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is destined by many to end up as one of the greatest to ever pick up a tennis racket, with Lopez impressed with how he handles it on a daily basis. “Every day he gets up to compete, he has the obligation to win because he’s the best. Every time Carlos wins something important, the names of Rafa, Novak, Federer… come up. That’s a very heavy burden, and what’s incredible about all of that for me is how well he handles it. A naturalness like… he faces the pressure in matches with courage and audacity.”

The Madrid Open will be competed from April 20 - May 3 as the best players in the world look to fight for the crown in the Spanish capital.