Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Explains Why Jannik Sinner Beat Carlos Alcaraz to Win ATP Fans’ Favorite Award

Jannik Sinner won the Fans's Favorite Award for the third consecutive time, while Carlos Alcaraz won the Player of the Year award.

Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Explains Why Jannik Sinner Beat Carlos Alcaraz to Win ATP Fans’ Favorite Award

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

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After defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the championship clash of the ATP Finals, Jannik Sinner edged his arch-rival to win the ATP Fans’ Favorite award. He has won the award for the third consecutive time.

Sinner won the award despite dealing with a lot of doping drama since last year. Serena Williams‘ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, explained why she thinks the Italian won the award. She thinks the reason could be how the four-time Grand Slam champion handled his French Open defeat to the Spaniard.

Sinner squandered a 2-0 lead, as well as three championship points in the fourth set, which saw Alcaraz defend his crown. But the 24-year-old took his revenge in the Wimbledon final, denying Alcaraz a three-peat.

I have a theory. My theory is the way he handled the French Open loss really endeared himself to a lot of fans. I think that made him. The way he handled that and then went and won Wimbledon, and the way he talked about his loss at the French and his admiration of Carlos and how he makes him a better player, and even the way he talked about the loss at the US Open and how he talked about that, he said Carlos did this and that different. I just think he endeared himself at the French Open, just like Amanda Anisimova did at Wimbledon with her loss.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Anisimova suffered a humiliating double-bagel defeat at the hands of World No.2 Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final. Stubbs thinks Anisimova will be a “beloved a bit like Jana Novotna“. In women’s tennis, however, the WTA Fan Favorite Award went to China’s Qinwen Zheng for the second consecutive time, while World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka won the WTA Player of the Year award.

In men’s tennis, the Player of the Year award was given to Alcaraz, who won it for the second time following the 2022 season. Alcaraz won the most titles on the men’s tour- eight from 11 finals, followed by Sinner with six titles, from 10 finals.

Carlos Alcaraz’s childhood coach thinks Samuel Lopez will be the head coach of Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, on Wednesday (December 17), announced on social media that he has parted ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. This was totally unexpected, given that the decision was taken before the Australian Open, where Alcaraz has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Samuel Lopez, who joined Alcaraz’s team in December 2024, will continue to coach the six-time Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz’s childhood coach, Kick Navarro, thinks Lopez will be the head coach from 2026, but he also thinks another coach with “more recognition” will be added to Alcaraz’s entourage.

But I believe a second person will be needed because the season is long with many travels. Perhaps this second person will have more recognition than Samu, but that doesn’t mean they will be the head coach. I would bet, without talking to the father yet, that Samu Lopez will be the head coach.

Kick Navarro told RNE

Alcaraz won his 24 titles, including his six Grand Slam titles, under the tutelage of Ferrero. This season, the 22-year-old, apart from the French Open title, also lifted his career’s second US Open title. The first time he won a Major was at the 2022 US Open, following which, he became the No.1 player, the youngest man in the Open Era to do so, at the age of 19.

This year, Alcaraz also reached the final of the ATP Finals, but failed to go past Jannik Sinner. He added five Big Titles to his trophy cabinet this year.

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