‘Suffered a Lot’ – Carlos Alcaraz’s Turin Hopes Dim as Roger Federer’s Ex-coach Pitches Another Top Contender Alongside Jannik Sinner

After an exhilarating 10 months of world-class tennis, the 2024 season is drawing to a close. As anticipation builds, all eyes are on the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin, where the top eight players of the season will battle to secure the year-end championship. At the forefront of this competition are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, each of whom clinched two Grand Slam titles this season and has dominated the ATP rankings. Their showdown is expected to be the highlight of the tournament, as they compete not only for the title but also for the unofficial title of “Player of the Year.”

Ahead of the ATP Finals, tennis analyst and former coach of Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic, weighed in with his thoughts on who might emerge victorious in Turin. In an interview with *We Love Tennis*, Ljubicic expressed his belief that Jannik Sinner, the current World No. 1, holds a slight edge over Alcaraz. When asked to pick his favorite for the tournament, Ljubicic confidently backed Sinner, describing him as the “dark horse” of the ATP Finals. He elaborated, “Yes, for me, he is the dark horse.”

Ljubicic’s reasons for favoring Sinner stem from Alcaraz’s history of underperforming on indoor courts. The Croatian-Italian coach explained that although Alcaraz performs exceptionally well on hard courts, he has struggled with indoor matches, particularly from a mental standpoint. Reflecting on Alcaraz’s performance in Turin last year, Ljubicic noted, “He has a very high level on hard courts, but on indoor courts, even in Turin last year, he suffered a lot, especially from a mental point of view. Let’s see if that will change this year.” Indeed, indoor hard courts have proved challenging for Alcaraz in the past, and he ended the previous season with several narrow losses, including a semifinal defeat to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals and an upset by Roman Safiullin at the Paris Masters.

Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, has established himself as a consistent force this season. With 10,330 points on the Race to Turin leaderboard, Sinner holds a considerable lead over his rivals, including Alcaraz, who stands at 6,710 points. This advantage reflects Sinner’s strong performances throughout the year, which have earned him a place at the top of the ATP rankings. Despite winning only one title this year, Alexander Zverev has also been a model of consistency, with 6,315 points to his name. Ljubicic believes that Zverev, along with Sinner, could be a major contender in Turin. “If we want to look for someone who is closer to Jannik, I would say Zverev,” he remarked, acknowledging the German’s reliability in crucial matches.

However, Alcaraz remains a formidable competitor with an impressive array of skills. Known for his quick reflexes and arsenal of shots, Alcaraz has proven his ability to adapt and excel on different surfaces, establishing himself as one of the most versatile players on the ATP Tour. Earlier this year, he made history as the youngest player to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in a single season. Although Sinner currently holds the No. 1 ranking, Alcaraz has had the upper hand in their head-to-head matchups, winning all three of their encounters in 2024. This record suggests that Alcaraz’s adaptability and mental toughness could carry him far, even on a challenging indoor court.

Interestingly, as both players gear up for the ATP Finals, they are first set to compete in the Rolex Paris Masters. But while Sinner enters Paris as a top seed and a favorite to win, he faces a tough road ahead due to a challenging draw. Sinner, who recently triumphed at the Shanghai Masters and claimed titles at the Miami Open and Cincinnati Masters, was granted a bye in the first round. Yet in the second round, he will face the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Félix Auger-Aliassime—two opponents with the skills to test Sinner’s mettle. If Sinner progresses, he could face a third-round clash with Holger Rune, a rising star who has shown his own remarkable form this season.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, appears to have a slightly easier path in Paris. Like Sinner, he received a first-round bye, allowing him to start fresh in the second round. His first opponent will be the winner of a match between Nicolás Jarry and a qualifier. Alcaraz may later face a formidable challenge in the semifinals, where Daniil Medvedev could await him. Medvedev, a seasoned player with multiple Masters titles, has the experience and skill set to pose a significant challenge for the young Spaniard.

With only a few tournaments left in the 2024 season, both Sinner and Alcaraz will be eager to end on a high note. For Sinner, capturing both the Paris Masters and ATP Finals would cement his position as the year’s top player and validate Ljubicic’s faith in his abilities. For Alcaraz, conquering his indoor court challenges and overcoming the world’s best in Turin would serve as a powerful testament to his resilience and growth as a player.

In the end, the ATP Finals in Turin will not only determine the year-end champion but also serve as a thrilling conclusion to an unforgettable season. Will it be the consistent and top-seeded Sinner, or the tenacious and adaptable Alcaraz who triumphs? Tennis fans around the world are eagerly awaiting this climactic showdown, as the battle for supremacy on the ATP Tour reaches its peak.

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