The semifinals of the Masters 1,000 in Miami will live the sixth chapter of Carlos Alcaraz against Jannik Sinner, which aims to be the rivalry of the future, which is already a reality. The Italian is 21 years old and the Spaniard is 19. The respect that both have for each other is important both on the track and off, where they have a good relationship. “I’ve played against him in the final rounds of tournaments. That means he’s playing at a high level,” says Carlos. “Of course I’m sure we’re going to play for great things in the future. I can’t wait to see it,” adds the Spaniard. At the start of Miami, Sinner assured: “I’m happy to play against Carlos because I look forward to these types of matches. They are usually very important matches and they make me improve, because I review them and see what I can do better. I feel that it makes me better. player. Here the court is fast. I think we both feel good on these courts”. A few days before he had lost in the Indian Wells semifinals against Carlos 7-6 (7/4) and 6-3. In the last magical month of Alcaraz, the only moment of lack of control was precisely in that duel against Sinner, in the first set, when he went from 4-2 to 4-5, but he maintained his concentration, recovered and already flew to victory .
In Challenger tournaments there is a confrontation in Alicante in 2019, on land, in which the Murcian won 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3. There they were both young promises. Sinner, who is a little older, made the leap earlier and began to shine earlier, although, already in ATP tournaments, they met in 2021 at the Masters 1,000 in Paris-Bercy, with another 7-6 victory for Carlos (7/ 1) and 7-5. There the Italian acknowledged that he was surprised by the variety of blows that his rival had, it was a way of making him see that he had to continue improving. The typical feedback that Nadal, Federer and Djokovic talk about so much.
The next duel was in 2022, at Wimbledon. There Alcaraz had already broken down the door, with victories in the Masters 1,000 in Miami and the Mutua Madrid Open. On the grass, Jannik was better without much discussion against a feisty Carlos, but inferior that day: 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (8/10) and 6-3.
Less than a month later, in the land of Umag, where Alcaraz defended the title, the player from San Cándido repeated his victory by 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 and 6-1. It was a few months of transition for the Spaniard after his explosion in March-April-May 2022. The irregularity lasted until the US Open, where he gave the final hit with the conquest of the first Grand Slam of his life, which led him to to be the youngest number one in history. One of his victims in New York was, of course, Sinner, in an unforgettable quarterfinal match, one of the best duels of the season, without respite, five hours and 15 minutes of what seemed like a video game more than reality and that the Murcian took 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (0/7), 7-5 and 6-3.