Jannik Sinner shows true feelings to Carlos Alcaraz with behind-the-scenes actions
Jannik Sinner claimed his first Wimbledon title with a four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday
Jannik Sinner's outstanding performance against Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon propelled him to his first championship at the All England Club and edged him closer to completing a career Grand Slam. The meticulous approach Sinner took in preparing for Alcaraz shows the profound respect he has for his newfound rival.
Considered by many as the next great rivalry in tennis, former Next-Gen standouts Sinner and Alcaraz are expected to contend at the pinnacle of men's tennis for years to come. Sinner, aged 23, dedicates himself to studying his adversaries, with particular focus on Alcaraz, according to his coach Darren Cahill.
Cahill's guidance has been instrumental in Sinner securing four out of the last seven Grand Slam titles, solidifying his status as the world's top player and highlighting his esteem for a competitor he will likely face numerous times in the years ahead.
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"I would say we're preparing for everybody, not just one player," Cahill remarked following Sinner's win at Wimbledon on Sunday. "Because if you prepare somebody for just one player, other players are going to sneak up on you and cause huge problems. There are so many variations in playing styles these days.
"The way he played today against Carlos isn't going to work against Ben Shelton or Alexander Zverev. So you have to prepare a player to face all kinds of possibilities. But Carlos is a big focus, and they're both pushing each other."
The coach expressed his insight on Sinner's drive, revealing that "I would say Jannik watches more of Carlos' matches than any other player, because he's fascinated by the improvements that are happening in Carlos' game, and he puts pressure on us as coaches to make sure he improves as a player, too. So the rivalry is real. It exists. And hopefully it will continue to exist for the next 10 or 12 years."
Sinner's deep analysis of Alcaraz's play was evident during the Sunday final, where it became clear he had identified strategies to exploit weaknesses, however small. He strategically targeted Alcaraz's forehand to create openings on the backhand side, which helped him turn the match around for the victory.
After leaving SW19 with a hefty £3 million ($4.03M) prize, Sinner showcased deliberate tactics, frequently charging the net and attempting nearly twice as many net plays as Alcaraz. He is now only an Australian Open title away from completing his Grand Slam collection.
On grass courts, Alcaraz has suffered defeats at the hands of Sinner in both of their matches to date, including a last 16 showdown at Wimbledon three years earlier. Despite benefitting from Grigor Dimitrov's retirement during their round four meeting being two sets in the lead, Sinner has managed to maintain a perfect set record otherwise.
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That outcome serves as evidence that there's still room for improvement in his game, and he might not have made it to the finals if Dimitrov had prevailed in their match. However, his research on Alcaraz was accurate.
Sinner is set to defend his U.S. Open title in August when the fourth and final major of 2025 kicks off at Flushing Meadows. This could necessitate additional preparation to defeat an evolved Alcaraz, who will be more determined than ever to score a victory over his main competitor.
