Maria Sharapova Makes Feelings Known About On-court Coaching by Citing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Example

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz recently faced each other in the championship clash of the ATP Finals.

Maria Sharapova Makes Feelings Known About On-court Coaching by Citing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Example

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Maria Sharapova (Image via X/Jannik Sinner, Tiempo De Tennis)

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Maria Sharapova talked about what are thinks about on-court coaching. She cited the examples of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both of whom have different approaches when it comes to taking advice from the team while being on the court.

Alcaraz and Sinner have lifted the most on the tour this year, winning eight and six titles, respectively. During the Paris Masters, which the World No.2 eventually won by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sinner showed signs of frustration and even yelled at coach Darren Cahill for not encouraging him much. Alcaraz is often seen receiving advice from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. About on-court coaching, five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova said that it always depends whether the players want or don’t want advice.

It depends on how the match is going. There are a few times where I would tell my coach it’s enough. But yeah, I mean, the stress of the situation, I think, guides the communication between the player and the coach. Some players love it — they openly communicate with their coaches. I know Alcaraz does it very often, whereas others, I think Sinner does it less often.

Maria Sharapova said on The David Rubenstein Show

Sinner and Alcaraz last met in the ATP Finals, where the former defended his crown by edging the six-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets. It was their sixth meeting this year following their clashes in the finals of the Italian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Cincinnati Masters, and the US Open. The win over Alcaraz in the year-end championships also helped Sinner increase his winning streak on indoor courts to 31 matches.

Boris Becker on Jannik Sinner’s Davis Cup absence

Jannik Sinner chose not to play the Davis Cup as he wanted an extra week off to start his pre-season early. The Italian drew a great deal of criticism, mainly from the Italian tennis community. Boris Becker defended him, saying only Sinner has the right to choose what’s good for him.

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

That’s the problem when you win that much. The fan gets used to it, the country gets used to it. They assume that you then belong to them, that the country is entitled to your life. That sounds kind of familiar to me.

Boris Becker said on his Becker-Petkovic podcast

This year, after defending his Australian Open trophy by defeating Alexander Zverev, Sinner stayed three months on the sidelines due to his doping ban, following which, he made his return to the Italian Open only to suffer defeat at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz.

Following his French Open heartbreak, Sinner avenged his defeat by denying the Spaniard a three-peat at Wimbledon. And after his US Open defeat, Sinner made some changes to his game, following which, he lifted the China Open, Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and the ATP Finals.

I gave a long interview with Corriere della Sera two weeks ago, where this was also addressed, because they were upset. I said Jannik Sinner belongs to Jannik Sinner and not Italy. And what he has done for this country over the past two years has been extraordinary, but it is not normal. He needs a break, has to prepare himself, his body, mind, and soul must now recover during the winter break.

Boris Becker added

Had Sinner and Alcaraz played the Davis Cup Finals, they could have met one more time as Italy and Spain reached the final. Sinner, in the previous two years, won every Davis Cup match, singles and doubles, helping Italy lift the title. He ended the season as the No.2 player because of Alcaraz’s semifinal qualification at the ATP Finals.

Also read: Davis Cup Director Admits the Event is Open to Changes Following Alexander Zverev’s Criticism