Alcaraz reflects on previous Sinner clashes

Carlos Alcaraz is chomping at the bit to take on Jannik Sinner in his Roland Garros semi-final, but to do so he will have to wait until Friday.

The duo, whose Lexus ATP Head2Head is all square at 4-4, will reignite their rivalry in a match where, whoever wins, the prize will be a first final at the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

“I can’t wait to play this match,” said the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I think it’ll be an amazing encounter and we’re going to enjoy it. It helps knowing where my level and my confidence are. We’re going to try and do everything possible to make it difficult for him and to find the win.”

Before the clash, Alcaraz took a look back at three of his previous encounters with Sinner.

2024 BNP Paribas Open, SF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
“The Indian Wells semi-finals helped me try and find solutions,” explained Alcaraz of the only time the two players have crossed swords this season, when the Murcia native took the spoils after coming back from a set down against an opponent who was yet to lose a match all year (16-0).

“In the end, Jannik is one of those players who always maintains a high level and you have to try and find solutions in the match on the fly. I think that’s the great thing about tennis and that’s what we’ll try to do on Friday at Roland Garros.”

2022 US Open, QF, Alcaraz d. Sinner 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3
“At the US Open… What can I say about the US Open match?” the 21-year-old said of their five-set thriller in New York.

“In the end, I played for five hours and 15 minutes at a very high level in a match that was extremely demanding, physically, mentally and tennis-wise. I think it’s one of the best matches I’ve played in my whole career, without a doubt."

Alcaraz went on to win his first major at that US Open and by doing so became the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings.

2022 Wimbledon, Fourth Round, Sinner d. Alcaraz 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3
“It was a really tough match for me,” recalled the Spaniard of their clash in the third Grand Slam of the season. “My first time on Centre Court at Wimbledon... I was a bit nervous, but in the end, we both played great tennis, at a very high level. I have to say that in my matches against Jannik I’ve learned every time I’ve played him, to deal with different situations you can find yourself in against him.”