They have been hailed as the future of men’s tennis by the soon-to-be outgoing king of the game, yet Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner share a friendship you may not associate with sporting rivals.
Novak Djokovic is convinced Alcaraz and Sinner will be the big stars of the men’s game for years to come, as he has hailed the young guns who have started to beat him since they exploded to prominence at the top of the game.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Alcaraz and 2024 Australian Open winner Sinner appear to be primed to battle it out for the biggest prizes in the game for the next decade and more.
Yet images of the duo sharing a few laughs during the rain delay of the Indian Wells semi-final confirmed this battle is very my a very jovial one for now.
There was always a sense that Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had a little heated spice in their rivalry and there was even more antagonism between Rafael Nadal and Djokovic over the course of their battles on the court.
Tennis is not a sport that creates battles like boxing or other combat sports, but there is a sense that being friends with your rivals is an unrealistic ambition for the biggest names in any game.
For now, Alcaraz and Sinner are bucking that trend and they confirmed as much with their comments in Indian Wells.
“Carlos, it’s always fun to play with him,” said Sinner.
“We are good friends off the court. On the court, we just try to give 100 per cent. I think we have a good attitude on the court.
“Usually, the matches are good. Especially when he’s serving really well, it’s tough to play against him. I’m looking forward to every challenge.
“Every time we play against each other, I feel like we both try to push each other to the limit.
“We hate losing, especially against each other, so on court, inside you feel a little bit nervous.”
Alcaraz and Sinner spent time together training during the pre-season block ahead of this tennis season, with Sinner’s coach confirming they have developed a respectful friendship.
“Two great kids not just on the court but also off the court as well. Their friendship is real,” said Cahill.
They both respect each other and like each other and you’ll see that on the court regardless of who wins.
“These two men will play a lot over the next 10 years and this is just another part of their rivalry.
“Jannik is keen to watch Carlos’ matches because in a way he was the trailblazer after winning a Grand Slam first.”
Alcaraz’s respect for Sinner shines through when he speaks about the 22-year-old Italian, as he says: I’m not surprised because he’s doing well as he is a hard worker.
“If I want to match his level, I have to work hard because right now he’s the one who’s better. It’s good for tennis that there’s another young player like him who wins Grand Slams.”
Alcaraz held the upper hand against Alcaraz in their early meetings, but the changes Sinner has made to his serve and the power he now has on his forehand has allowed him to close the gap that once existed between him and the best players in the game.
When Alcaraz broke through and won his first Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open and then backed it up by winning Wimbledon last year, he appeared to be the future of the men’s game.
Now the tennis world is getting excited about a thrilling new rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner and it will be fascinating to see if their cordial relations off the court will remain intact as they fight it out for the biggest titles in the game.
If Sinner continues to put Alcaraz in his place and beats him to the title of the next big star of men’s tennis, the Spaniard may not be quite such a big fan of his Italian buddy.