“He pushes me to do better, which is something good,” Jannik Sinner opens up on his rivalry and friendship with Carlos Alcaraz

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has given an insight into his rivalry and friendship with Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

“He pushes me to do better, which is something good,” Jannik Sinner opens up on his rivalry and friendship with Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (via Imago)

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have begun a rivalry that has fans buzzing. They have faced each other 10 times already, with Alcaraz leading 6-4 in the head-to-head. As was the case with the Big 3 — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic — the two have only been meeting in the latter stages of tournaments.

Since the start of the 2023 season, Sinner and Alcaraz have faced each other six times, five times in the semifinals and once in the final. They most recently met in the title match at the China Open this week, where Alcaraz came from a set down to beat the Italian.

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Sinner and Alcaraz have since left Beijing for the Shanghai Masters, where they both have received a bye in the first round. Ahead of his Round of 64 clash with Taro Daniel on Saturday (October 5), Sinner spoke about how the Spaniard pushed him to always strive to be his best.

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On the court we are a bit different, because that’s normal, that’s our nature. On the court we try to put on a big fight, you know, like we always do and we always try. He pushes me to do better, which is something good, where then I try to improve my game in the next days or in the off-season, you know, you’re going to practice for that.

Jannik Sinner said at a press conference

Jannik Sinner and Taro Daniel have faced each other only once before, in the Round of 32 at the 2022 Australian Open. The World No. 1 prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 before exiting the tournament in the quarterfinals after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Jannik Sinner says he and Carlos Alcaraz are ‘quite similar as human beings’ off the court

While Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have emerged as the best players do the ATP Tour, they employ contrasting styles on the court. While the former is more serene and efficient with his shots, the latter enjoys playing high-risk, high-reward tennis. Off the court, however, Sinner believes that they are both very similar.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the 2024 China Open (via X)

I feel like that for us it’s quite easy, because we are, I feel, we are quite similar as human beings off the court. Off court, I listen to him, I have the feeling that he likes to surround himself with the close people, which I do. Yeah, I mean it’s, for us, how we live is very normal, let’s say, you know. Off the court, we are quite similar.

Jannik Sinner added

While Sinner will get his Shanghai Masters campaign underway with a clash against Taro Daniel, Alcaraz is set to face Juncheng Shang in his Round of 64 clash on Saturday. They have faced each other only once before, at the Australian Open earlier this year, where injury forced the Chinese player to retire mid-match.