Rivalry Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Reminds Chris Evert of Her Battles with Martina Navratilova

Jannik Sinner was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz five consecutive times, including twice this season, in Rome and Paris.

Rivalry Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Reminds Chris Evert of Her Battles with Martina Navratilova

Jannik Sinner, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Netwerk24 Sport, Barstool Tennis)

Carlos Alcaraz won’t be having a chance to meet his arch-rival Jannik Sinner before Wimbledon as they are playing different warm-up events before the grass-court Major. The Spaniard is bidding to win his fourth title on the surface at the Queen’s Club Championships.

Sinner is in Halle to defend his title as well as become a grass-court champion for the second time in his career. The young rivals have met twice this season with Alcaraz prevailing over Sinner both times.

Sinner, after serving his three-month doping ban, made his comeback at the Italian Open but lost easily to Alcaraz. Then at Roland Garros, they were pitted against each other in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

While Sinner was breezing past his opponents one after the other, Alcaraz dropped sets multiple times, even against unseeded players. When they met in the final, many thought the match would end quickly.

Even though from the very start the final was a tight affair, Sinner somehow took a 2-0 lead and in the fourth set, he had three match points. Alcaraz changed the momentum in his favor by saving those points, winning the set, before claiming the decider to defend his title as well as improve his head-to-head record over the World No.1 to 8-4.

Their rivalry reminds former WTA player Chris Evert of her rivalry with Martina Navratilova. The two retired players met 80 times and Navratilova held a head-to-head edge of 43-37.

This rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner reminds me of what Martina and I shared in our time. There are similarities in the way we played. I was the most consistent one, and Martina was the one with all the possible shots. You look at Alcaraz and Sinner now, and Carlos is the one with all the options, and Sinner is the most stable.

Chris Evert told Tennis365

Evert also doesn’t think any other player could challenge the two young Grand Slam champions. Last year, Sinner lost just six matches and three of those defeats came from Alcaraz. He has now lost five consecutive matches against the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Carlos Alcaraz is convinced that Jannik Sinner will make a strong comeback

Carlos Alcaraz foresees an even stronger Jannik Sinner in the aftermath of his French Open heartbreak. The 22-year-old doesn’t think he has a mental advantage over Sinner, backing the Italian to have a great campaign at Wimbledon.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Univers Tennis)

We are friends, but not so close to chat constantly, although I know how much it would hurt him to lose in Paris. The best thing about tennis is that it never stops and gives you the opportunity to redeem yourself immediately. You don’t have time to dwell too much on what happened. I am convinced that Sinner will come back with a strength and motivation never seen before in him.

Carlos Alcaraz told Repubblica (H/T: Ubitennis)

At Wimbledon, Sinner has never progressed to the final. He was defeated by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals in 2023 and last year, Daniil Medvedev ended his campaign in the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz will enter Wimbledon as the two-time defending champion. He first emerged victorious in 2023 by spoiling Djokovic’s Calendar Grand Slam goal, beating him in a thrilling five-set final. Last year, he defeated the seven-time Wimbledon champion again in the final but this time, in straight sets; and the victory made him the sixth man in the Open Era to complete the Channel Slam.

Alcaraz will kick-start his campaign at the Queen’s Club Championships against compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Sinner will be meeting qualifier and home favorite Yannick Hanfmann in his opening round in Halle.

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