Carlos Alcaraz lifts the lid on Jannik Sinner rivalry and sends warning – 'He doesn't care'

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

Carlos Alcaraz was speaking ahead of the National Bank Open, which both he and Jannik Sinner have withdrawn from, with the Italian set to lose 200 points from his ranking
Carlos Alcaraz has issued a warning to Jannik Sinner that he's gunning for his world number one crown, insisting the Wimbledon champion "doesn't care" about ranking points. The Spanish sensation became tennis ' youngest ever male number one in 2022 aged just 19 years, four months, and six days old, following his triumph at the US Open.
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He occupied the summit for 20 weeks before being dethroned by Novak Djokovic after the Serbian's Australian Open victory in 2023. The 38-year-old subsequently surrendered the status to Sinner, who became the first Italian to claim the top ranking after his National Bank Open success in 2024.
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The four-time Grand Slam winner has since maintained his grip on the position for 59 straight weeks - the lengthiest stretch this decade apart from Djokovic's reign, reports the Express.
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Sinner boasts a massive 3,430-point advantage over Alcaraz in the ATP standings, yet the substantial deficit hasn't deterred the world number two in his quest to reclaim the pinnacle, which he's acknowledged as his primary objective.
Despite his Wimbledon final heartbreak, the 22-year-old has enjoyed a stellar 2025, capturing five trophies including his second straight French Open crown, where he pulled off a stunning comeback over Sinner.
set to kick off later this month, the Italian is bracing for a dip in his ranking as he stands to lose the 200 points he bagged during last year's quarter-final run.
Yet, Alcaraz has let slip that Sinner isn't sweating over defending his points, a mindset that could play into the Spaniard's hands as he aims to outpace his adversary.
"Yes, I'm ready," declared Alcaraz about topping the ATP rankings. "Last year, after the Olympic Games, I struggled and didn't achieve great results. So from now on, I won't have many points to defend until the end of the season. I'll give my all in the upcoming tournaments to win as many points as possible.
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"I know Sinner doesn't care if he has lots of points to defend; he's a great fighter who always plays to win and doesn't let that affect him. But I'm ready for the challenge; right now, my main goal is to reclaim the number one spot in the rankings.
"Now I'm preparing for the American tournaments so that I can arrive at the US Open in top form," he continued. Despite their fierce battles on the tennis court, Alcaraz has nothing but respect for Sinner, highlighting the unique nature of their sport.
"Tennis is a unique sport that allows you to be great rivals on court and, at the same time, maintain mutual respect," he added. "We are good friends; we can talk about many things off court.
"I have great respect for him; he's a really nice person; I'm sure we'll always be able to maintain this good relationship." They're now gearing up for a comeback to the court at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 next month.
The event serves as the final precursor to the US Open, where Sinner will be defending his title. Prior to the singles tournament, the major has introduced a new edition of the mixed doubles event which includes nine of the world's top 10 women and nine of the world's top 10 men.