Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been among the young guns to watch. Two rivals have met five times since Paris 2021, including an epic US Open quarter-final clash last September. Carlos lost to Jannik at Wimbledon and in Umag last year and bounced back to claim the next two encounters and take a 3-2 advantage.
Sinner is ready to challenge Alcaraz in the upcoming years, saying he will work hard to achieve the Spaniard’s level and chase notable titles. The Spaniard and the Italian met in the Indian Wells semi-final last week, and Carlos scored a 7-6, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 52 minutes.
Carlos defeated Jannik for the third time in five encounters, prevailing in the opener after saving a set point on serve in the 12th game and keeping everything under control in set number two. The Spaniard won four points more than the Italian, defending one out of two break points and stealing the rival’s serve two times from six chances.
Alcaraz had more winners and unforced errors and tamed his strokes more efficiently than his opponent to emerge at the top after a tight battle.
Jannik Sinner will try to match Carlos Alcaraz’s pace in the future.
Nothing separated them in the encounter’s opening four games, and a teenager grabbed the second break opportunity in the fifth game after the rival’s loose backhand.
Alcaraz held at 15 in game six to extend the advantage and settle into a fine rhythm. Sinner stayed competitive and forced Alcaraz’s backhand error in the eighth game for a break at love and momentum. Carlos served to stay in the set at 5-6 and netted a forehand to experience a set point!
He denied it with a fine drop shot and a volley winner at the net to introduce a tie break. They stayed neck and neck until the ninth point when Jannik netted a backhand to fall behind. Carlos defended superbly in the tenth point to create two set points and cracked a backhand crosscourt winner on the first for 7-4 after 61 minutes.
Jannik squandered game points in the second set’s second game and lost serve to fall a set and a break down. Alcaraz served well in games three and five to open a 4-1 gap and move closer to the finish line. The Italian faced an ultimate challenge in the sixth game, defending three break points and remaining within one break deficit.
Carlos moved 5-2 in front with a service winner in game seven and served for the victory at 5-3. The Spaniard earned two match points with a mighty forehand and seized the second with a forehand down the line winner that propelled him into the title clash.
“Facing Carlos is fantastic because our matches are always tricky; he pushes me to the limit. I can learn a lot from our duels, and he encourages me to continue improving as a tennis player. What Carlos has been doing is impressive, being world no.
1 and winning notable titles. His level is higher than mine now, but I can get there if I continue to work hard. I can do it, and I’m confident that the process will lead me to do the right things on and off the court, ” Jannik Sinner said.
Source: Tennis World USA
