Fans Slam Journalist for Asking Carlos Alcaraz to ‘Step Up’ on Clay to Challenge Jannik Sinner- “Media is so Sold out for the Doper”

Last year, Jannik Sinner lost two finals on clay to Carlos Alcaraz, who is bidding to win his 12th title on the surface in Monte Carlo.

Fans Slam Journalist for Asking Carlos Alcaraz to ‘Step Up’ on Clay to Challenge Jannik Sinner- “Media is so Sold out for the Doper”

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, The Independent)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz has won 11 clay-court titles, including six Big Titles.
  • Fans criticized a journalist for suggesting Alcaraz needs to improve on clay despite his success.
  • Both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are competing for the No.1 ranking in Monte Carlo.

Jannik Sinner, even though he has so far won just one title on clay, impressed the tennis world with his performance on the surface last year. After defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 Croatia Open final, Sinner played his second clay-court final at last year’s Italian Open, only to lose in straight sets to the Spaniard.

Then the two top players locked horns for the first time in a Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. Alcaraz was the clear favorite, but Sinner almost snatched the match away from him.

After winning the first two sets, when Sinner served for the match in the fourth set at 40-0, Alcaraz saved three championship points and defended his crown in a five-hour, 29-minute battle. Sinner, in an interview earlier this year, admitted that one of his main goals for this season is to win Roland Garros and complete the Career Grand Slam.

Both players are in Monte Carlo for the third Masters 1000 of the season. Alcaraz knocked out Sebastian Baez in his opening round, and later at the press conference, he was asked whether he thinks he needs more improvement on clay to challenge the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Well, I know Jannik, and we all could see that he always comes back even stronger and better when he loses matches. And I’m pretty sure he’s looking back to the tournaments he played on clay last year, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be better this year. So I just got to be ready for that. But I would say he feels more natural on hard court, and I feel more natural on clay.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

Alcaraz is the winner of 11 clay-court titles, six of which are Big Titles (four Masters 1000 and two French Open titles).

I grew up playing on clay my whole life. So, let’s see how it’s going to be, but I would say he’s hungry for everything on clay. I would say it’s the tournaments he misses in his belt, so let’s see how it’s going to be, but for sure for him and for me, obviously. It’s going to be a quite interesting clay season ahead.

Carlos Alcaraz added

Alcaraz is competing as the defending champion. Last year, he beat Lorenzo Musetti to win the trophy in The Principality for the first time.

Tennis fans call out a journalist for suggesting that Carlos Alcaraz is an underdog on clay

Carlos Alcaraz has a better record on clay than Jannik Sinner. A journalist at the aforementioned press conference asked the Murcia native whether he thinks Alcaraz needs to step up on clay this year because of Sinner’s performance on the surface last year.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/CARLOS ALCARAZ NEWS)

The journalist found himself on the receiving end of criticism, with fans reminding him that it was not Sinner but Alcaraz who won three Big Titles on the surface last year. Fans also reminded the journalist that Sinner lost two finals on clay at the hands of Alcaraz.

Check out their reactions here:

Sinner started his campaign in Monte Carlo against Ugo Humbert. Both Sinner and Alcaraz are bidding to win their third title of the season.

Alcaraz, after his Australian Open and Qatar Open wins, suffered defeat in the Indian Wells semifinal and the Miami Open third round. Sinner, after his defeat in Melbourne and Doha before reaching the final, won titles in the Sunshine Double events. Alcaraz and Sinner, who are yet to play against each other this year, are fighting for the No.1 ranking. Sinner will reclaim his position if he wins the title.

Also read: Alexander Bublik Reveals the Only Condition to Catch Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz