Roger Federer’s Claims Involving Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Dismissed By ATP Tournament Director

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz last played against each other at the US Open, which the latter won in four sets.

Roger Federer’s Claims Involving Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Dismissed By ATP Tournament Director

Roger Federer, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Brian, Jannik Sinner HQ)

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have faced each other in the final whenever they played the same tournament this year since the Italian Open. Sinner was successful in winning just Wimbledon and gave a walkover in Cincinnati.

They are yet to play the same tournament since the US Open. After New York, Alcaraz’s next destination was San Francisco for the Laver Cup, which was attended by its co-founder, Roger Federer. There, during his former rival Andy Roddick‘s Served podcast, the Swiss maestro gave a controversial statement on the speed of the courts.

According to the 20-time Grand Slam champion, the court is deliberately kept slower to benefit Sinner because only those who play aggressive shots can beat him. This way, Alcaraz and Sinner reach the final.

Alexander Zverev echoed similar sentiments during the Shanghai Masters. But Bob Moran, who runs both the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open, dismissed such claims during an interview with the BBC.

Trying to create something that benefits certain players never goes through our head – not even close. We were fast, and we had Sinner and Alcaraz. For the three years I’ve been doing this in Cincinnati, the players have come back to me that they feel fast.

Sinner simply shrugged off when he was asked about Zverev’s claims of tournament bias during the Shanghai Masters. The four-time Grand Slam champion said he and Alcaraz do not control the court speed and that they try to adapt themselves to every condition.

What we were really striving for this year was consistency throughout the swing. When they hit the States, in Washington, DC, through to the US Open. We all decided that we wanted to be in that medium-fast to fast range. Our goal – consistent speeds, consistent ball – and that’s what we are being told by the players they want.

Bob Moran added

Sinner was forced to give the walkover to Tallon Griekspoor after suffering cramps in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. Alcaraz skipped Shanghai because of an ankle injury he suffered during the Japan Open.

Andy Roddick slams the tennis schedule after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Shanghai withdrawal

Because both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dealt with injuries, all the blame went to the 11-month hectic tennis calendar. Andy Roddick has always censured the tennis calendar, and he did the same on his Served podcast after Sinner’s mid-match retirement in Shanghai.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (3)
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Sinner obviously paying the bill, and Alcaraz was playing the bill for the scheduling. It’s possible to be physically and mentally perfect week in and week out. Those guys can generally win when they are not.

Both Sinner and Alcaraz will next be featuring at the Six Kings Slam- the exhibition event in Riyadh, scheduled to start on October 16. Last year, Sinner bagged the mouthwatering prize money by beating Alcaraz.

Both Sinner and Alcaraz had to play the quarterfinals last year. But this year, Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were given the first-round byes, which means they will play directly from the semifinals. Sinner will be locking horns with Alexander Zverev, while Stefanos Tsitsipas will be clashing with Taylor Fritz for a spot in the semifinals.

Following the Six Kings Slam, the 22-year-old will be playing the Paris Masters, where last year, his run was ended by Ugo Humbert in the third round. Sinner’s destination after Riyadh will be Vienna for the ATP 500 event, which he won in 2023 by beating Daniil Medvedev. His participation in the Paris Masters is uncertain.

The tournament where both Alcaraz and Sinner will play next is the ATP Finals. Alcaraz lost without reaching the semifinals last year, while the four-time Grand Slam champion beat Fritz to end the year-end championships in his favor.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Opens Up on the State of His Relationship With Carlos Alcaraz on Tour