Carlos Alcaraz says Jannik Sinner can never be his friend ahead of Wimbledon final
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will meet in the Wimbledon final on Sunday, with the two rivals set to do battle in the biggest match of their young careers
Carlos Alcaraz has candidly explained why a friendship with Wimbledon final rival Jannik Sinner is off the cards, despite their mutual respect. After defeating Taylor Fritz to secure his spot in his third consecutive SW19 final, Alcaraz is set to face world No. 1 Sinner, who ousted Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
The two titans of tennis clashed in an unforgettable French Open final last month, where Alcaraz triumphed in a grueling five-hour and 29-minute battle, saving three championship points. The upcoming Centre Court showdown on Sunday will see 23-year-old Sinner seeking his first Wimbledon crown and looking to avenge his heart-wrenching loss.
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While the pair share professional admiration, Alcaraz, 22, revealed to Sky Sports Tennis that their relationship is cordial but distant due to their intense competition.
Alcaraz shared, "Once we are on tour, travelling, at tournaments, on site, we are with our teams and on our own, so we don't speak too much.
"But when we can, we talk a little bit besides tennis, about life. But not too much. It means we have a good relationship but we are not close friends. I think the respect we have puts us in a position that we have a really good relationship."
Alcaraz maintained his stance during Sinner's three-month suspension, which ended in May after the Italian tennis star tested positive for clostebol—an anabolic steroid. The ban followed a positive result that Sinner claimed resulted from accidental contamination by a team member.
Despite the setback, Sinner described mixed reactions from his peers: "I received messages from players I didn't expect and I didn't receive anything from others I could expect something from."
While expressing admiration for Sinner's comeback post-suspension, Alcaraz acknowledged keeping his distance during the ban, as reported by Marca: "I haven't spoken to him during his disqualification. Everyone looks out for themselves."
Alcaraz also remarked on their professional rivalry and limited friendship: "We are not very close. In the end we are also rivals and I can't have a close friendship with a person I want to beat."
Alcaraz, however, confirmed a respectful rapport with Sinner, commending his performance after returning: "I have great respect for him. What he is doing now after being out for three months is incredible. I was very happy to see him back on the circuit. It's normal for him to feel disappointed. But it is what it is."
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Alcaraz's approach mirrors Djokovic's towards Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The 38-year-old Serbian, who has no intention of retiring despite his resounding loss to Sinner, once revealed: "Nadal is only a year older than me. We are both Geminis. At first, we even went to dinner together, twice. But even with him, friendship is impossible."
Regarding Federer, Djokovic stated: "We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies.
"I've always had respect for Federer, he was one of the greatest of all time. He had an extraordinary impact, but I've never been close to him."
