Jannik Sinner Refuses to Play Golf with Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati: “He’s Too Good for Me”

Jannik Sinner is projected to face Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Cincinnati Masters, whereas the former is bidding to defend his title.

Jannik Sinner Refuses to Play Golf with Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati: “He’s Too Good for Me”

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Sinner Times)

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Jannik Sinner is back in action, and upon returning, he wasted no time knocking out his opening-round opponent from the Cincinnati Masters. On Saturday (August 9), Sinner recorded his quickest victory of this season with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Daniel Elahi Galan in just 59 minutes.

He has improved his head-to-head lead over Galan to 3-0. During his interview with Tennis Channel after his second-round win, Sinner said he played golf a couple of times and is hoping to play more because he can’t find anything else to do in the city.

I’m not a good golfer, but I love to spend time doing different things now. And we were just talking, maybe now we go, because it’s also not late. Tomorrow I have one day off, so maybe we play a couple of holes here. Also, last year, you know, here it’s the best place to play golf. In Cincinnati, there’s not so much to do, so we’re actually lucky that the golf course is there.

It was his first match since his four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. He had came from a set down to deny the Spaniard a three-peat at SW19 and improved his head-to-head record to 5-8. In process, he also avenged his French Open final defeat.

Off the court, both took their rivalry to the golf course in Cincinnati. When asked during that interview with Tennis Channel whether they would once again be playing golf, the World No.1 refused.

Carlos is too good for me. Me and my team is better.

Jannik Sinner added

Sinner could schedule a fourth match against Alcaraz this season if they both progress to the final. While Alcaraz was the finalist in 2023 (lost the match to Novak Djokovic, who hasn’t yet appeared in Cincinnati since that match), Sinner is aiming to defend his title. Last year, he beat Frances Tiafoe in the final, while the five-time Grand Slam champion suffered an opening-round exit.

In the tournament, the 22-year-old is chasing his sixth title of the season as well as his career’s eighth Masters 1000 title. This season, he has lifted two Masters 1000s: in Monte Carlo and Rome, by beating Lorenzo Musetti and Sinner, respectively.

Jannik Sinner will play the China Open for the third time in a row

The social media handle of the China Open has announced that Jannik Sinner will be playing the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing after the US Open. Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev in the final in 2023 but couldn’t defend his title last year as Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the summit clash.

Jannik Sinner (3)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Hey everyone, Jannik here. I’m just very excited to come back to Beijing for the third time in a row. I’m very excited for that. See you all there. It’s going to be a great tournament again. Ciao Ciao.

Jannik Sinner said

Playing four ATP 500 events, including one after the US Open, is mandatory. Sinner, so far, has played just the Halle Open in this category.

After defending his Australian Open title, the 23-year-old skipped the Rotterdam Open, following which, he was handed a three-month doping ban by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). He then played one Masters 1000s and two Grand Slam events before starting his Cincinnati campaign. Sinner skipped the Citi Open and was scheduled to play the Canadian Open, but he withdrew from it.

In Cincinnati, the four-time Grand Slam champion will next be locking horns with Gabriel Diallo, who knocked out Sebastian Baez. If he wins, he will become the first man to defend the Cincinnati Masters since 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer (2014-15).

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Warns Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner About the Rise of “a Third Candidate”