Boris Becker Cites Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s Example to Laud Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for Being ‘Friends’

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the positive role models for the next generation, believes Boris Becker, not just because of their tennis dominance but also because of how they are as people off the court. While on the court, they are fierce rivals; off the court, they share a good camaraderie.

They have met 16 times, with Alcaraz winning 10 of those matches. In their last encounter, in the championship clash of the ATP Finals, the four-time Grand Slam champion defended his crown against Alcaraz, defeating him for the second time in their last nine encounters.

Becker, during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, recalled his playing days as well as the rivalry he shared with John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, and Stefan Edberg. He compared it to that of the Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal rivalry, saying their mutual respect played a huge role in today’s tennis.

In our day, we weren’t friends. It simply didn’t exist. Imagine me being friends with McEnroe or Lendl… impossible. I got along well with Stefan Edberg; I respected him a lot, but it wasn’t like today.

Boris Becker said

Alcaraz and Sinner even practiced together before the ATP Finals. According to Alcaraz, rivalry doesn’t mean they have to hate each other, that their “healthy rivalry is great for the sport as well“.

In my opinion, the concept of friendship between rivals changed with Federer and Nadal. They transformed the way two great opponents behave towards each other, and that was a good thing: an excellent example for young players. I think it’s wonderful that Sinner and Alcaraz have this chemistry off the court.

Boris Becker added

The year-end No.1 trophy was also on the line, and Alcaraz grabbed it right after reaching the semifinals of the ATP Finals. Although he missed his career’s first title in the season-ending event, he won the most on the men’s tour this year: eight trophies from 11 finals, including three Grand Slam finals.

Simone Vagnozzi on Jannik Sinner’s improvements

Jannik Sinner made it clear following his US Open defeat that he wanted to improve his game, as he blamed the predictable nature of his game for the defeat to Carlos Alcaraz. Since that admission and grinding on the practice courts for hours and hours, the four-time Grand Slam champion took home the China Open, Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and finally, the ATP Finals.

In the year-end tournament, just like last year, Sinner clinched the victory without dropping a set, pocketing $5.07 million. One aspect of his game that he has acknowledged he has worked on a lot is his service games. His coach, Simone Vagnozzi, talked about the technical tweaks to Sinner’s serves at the press conference.

After US Open, we saw some issues, especially with the serve. We changed the motion. We changed the rhythm. He served really well from Shanghai till here.

The next tournament is the Davis Cup, and Sinner won’t be playing as he wants an extra week off. The 24-year-old ended his season with six titles from 10 finals, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Last year at the ATP Finals, he lifted his eighth title of the season from his ninth final by defeating Taylor Fritz. Sinner admitted that he played better tennis than last year despite the title tally.

The ATP Finals was his 11th Big Title as well as his fourth Big Title of the season, following the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the Paris Masters. He is also on a 31-match winning streak on indoor hardcourts, with his last defeat on the surface coming at the hands of Novak Djokovic in the summit clash of the 2023 ATP Finals.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Addresses Engagement Rumors With Girlfriend Laila Hasanovic After ATP Finals Win

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