Jannik Sinner Says Arch-Rival Carlos Alcaraz ‘Deserves’ World No.1 Ranking

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are chasing their third and eighth titles of the season at the China Open and Japan Open, respectively.

Jannik Sinner Says Arch-Rival Carlos Alcaraz ‘Deserves’ World No.1 Ranking

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image vIa X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

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Jannik Sinner is participating in the China Open and has already breezed past his first-round opponent, Marin Cilic. On the same day in Tokyo, about a couple of hours before Sinner’s match, Carlos Alcaraz knocked out Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

Alcaraz is chasing his eighth title of the season as well as his third one in the ATP 500 category after his wins at the Rotterdam Open and the Queen’s Club Championships. The last title that he clinched was the US Open by beating Sinner in four sets, and it also helped him move one place up and reclaim the No.1 ranking.

Alcaraz was in the finals of every tournament he has played (before the China Open) since the Monte Carlo Masters and lost only the Barcelona Open to Holger Rune and Wimbledon to the Italian. Sinner, at the press conference after his first-round win, said his arch-rival deserved to be at the top thanks to his incredible performances.

Not being number one add or take away any pressure from. The season has gone as it has: yes, we’ve shared the Grand Slams, but even so, they have been two very different seasons. Carlos deserves to be there. He has played more tournaments and all at a very high level of tennis. We still have this tournament left, two Masters 1000s, Turin, and the Davis Cup.

Sinner’s titles tally this season is two, though both of them he lifted at the Australian Open and Wimbledon by beating Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz, respectively. Apart from the two Majors, he also reached four more finals, including at the French Open and US Open, losing all to the six-time Grand Slam champion.

Because he played the finals of every Major this season, he became the youngest man in the Open Era to do so. Sinner won the China Open in 2023 and was denied a second title by Alcaraz after a tough three-set defeat last year. If Sinner wins the China Open as well as the Shanghai Masters, he will dethrone Alcaraz from the top.

Jannik Sinner on his comeback to the China Open

Jannik Sinner is 10-1 at the China Open thanks to his win over Daniil Medvedev in 2023 final and defeat to Carlos Alcaraz last year. At the press conference after his first-round win, the 4-time Grand Slam champion was asked about the improvements in the facilities at the venue, to which he said he liked the fact that it now has more training courts.

Jannik Sinner (via X/Jannik Sinner Times)
Jannik Sinner (via X/Jannik Sinner Times)

He also liked the upgraded gym as well as the larger dining room. Sinner also talked about the enthusiastic fans.

It’s fantastic to return to China. From the first day of training, I noticed that many people come to watch, showing the passion for tennis here. I love being able to give them my energy. They love tennis, that’s what they come here, and why I play here. Returning to this great court to play an official match was a fantastic feeling; I have very fond memories. It’s spectacular; every year, I feel that the sport and passion for tennis are growing here.

In the fourth round, the Italian will be clashing with Frenchman Terence Atmane, whom he defeated in the semifinal of this year’s Cincinnati Masters to take a 1-0 head-to-head lead. Before scheduling the match against the first seed, Atmane knocked out home favorite Zhang Zhizhen in straight sets.

Sinner is chasing his first title of the season in the ATP 500 category. Before the China Open, he featured only in one ATP 500 event- at the Halle Open, where he failed to defend his title due to his defeat to eventual winner Alexander Bublik.

Also read: Boris Becker Shares Why Roger Federer was Novak Djokovic’s ‘Number One Nemesis’ at Wimbledon