Tim Henman Highlights Carlos Alcaraz’s Injury as a Deciding Factor in his ATP Finals Loss to Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner won a second successive ATP Finals title, this time a straight-sets win over Carlos Alcaraz.
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Tim Henman Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (via Express)
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Jannik Sinner delivered a composed and powerful performance to defeat Carlos Alcaraz 7–6, 7–5 in their ATP Finals clash. The match was tight from the beginning, with both players trading heavy groundstrokes and testing each other’s movement.
Some observers believed there was more to the result than just Sinner’s level, including former British No. 1 Tim Henman. He suggested that Alcaraz’s lingering hamstring issue appeared to limit his explosiveness, particularly in long rallies. Henman said on Sky Sports:
To be honest, I think the leg problem had something to do with it. Alcaraz changed his style of play and was much more aggressive in attack, which he’s capable of, but I think he would have liked to prolong the exchanges if he hadn’t been injured. In the first set, he had his chances, and Sinner responded. It was a fascinating tiebreak with four or five drop shots all at once. I think the crowd cheered for Sinner, but I love seeing Alcaraz afterward, with a smile on his face and a great outlook. There’s a big difference between these two and the rest.
The impact of Alcaraz’s injury on the final is not fully known, but it has sealed his fate in the Davis Cup. The Spaniard won’t represent Spain in the Davis Cup final playoffs as the Spaniards play Czech Republic. This is the second time during the season that Alcaraz had physical problems during the final. The first came in the Barcelona Open final, where he lost against Holger Rune.
Davis Cup to kick off without Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
The 2025 Davis Cup Finals have suffered another major setback as world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz officially withdrew due to injury. His absence removes one of the biggest stars from the event in Bologna and significantly alters the competition’s landscape. The announcement has raised concerns about the overall strength of the player field this year.
Alcaraz first experienced the hamstring issue during his ATP Finals run in Turin and aggravated it during his match against Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Despite taking a medical timeout, he had still hoped to compete for Spain this week. An MRI later confirmed that the injury carried a high risk of a tear, leading the Spanish team to rule him out for safety.
The Spaniard had been expected to anchor his country’s push at the Elite 8 stage, but his withdrawal leaves the squad without a top-30 singles player. Jaume Munar, Pablo Carreño Busta, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers will now shoulder the responsibility. They will face a strong Czech Republic lineup in Thursday’s quarter-final clash.
Spain is not alone in dealing with high-profile absences, as Italy will also enter the event without two of their top stars. World No. 2 Sinner opted out to prioritize rest following another dominant ATP Finals victory. He is joined on the sidelines by world No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti, who cited fatigue and personal reasons for withdrawing from Italy’s quarter-final against Austria.
Who replaces Carlos Alcaraz in Davis Cup duty?
The Davis Cup Finals in Bologna open on Tuesday, but the competition has taken an unexpected turn. Spain’s campaign has been shaken by major news just days before play begins. A surprising development has created new uncertainty around the event.
Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 1, made the trip to Bologna but will not be able to compete due to a hamstring problem. The 22-year-old had hoped to lead Spain in their push for a first Davis Cup crown since 2019. His withdrawal removes one of the brightest stars from the tournament.
Without Alcaraz, Spain’s prospects of capturing the trophy have been noticeably weakened. The team will now need other players to step forward and take on greater responsibility. This shift opens the door for lesser-known members of the squad to make an impact.
One player who stands to benefit from this opportunity is Jaume Munar. With Alcaraz sidelined and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina opting out, Munar enters the Finals as Spain’s top-ranked singles competitor. Although Thursday’s quarter-final lineup against Czechia has not yet been finalized, Munar is expected to play a crucial role in Spain’s pursuit of success.
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