Jannik Sinner makes demand to coaches as Carlos Alcaraz feelings become clear

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Jannik Sinner was able to come from a set down to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, and the detail put into his preparations demonstrates the respect he has for his rival
Jannik Sinner's sensational Wimbledon victory over Carlos Alcaraz came as a result of painstaking research into his opponent. The Italian's meticulous preparation for this particular adversary is a testament to the deep respect he holds for a man he looks set to face many times in the coming years.
The young guns were once hailed as the future of tennis but are now the new powerhouses set to rule the Grand Slam courts for some time. Wimbledon champ Sinner's dedication to studying his opponents is well-known, yet it's Alcaraz who garners extra attention in his strategy sessions.
‌
This insight comes straight from coach Darren Cahill, who has revealed the extent of Sinner's focus on Alcaraz following his recent string of successes. This includes four major titles out of the last seven majors held, and he now sits just one trophy from completing the career Grand Slam.
‌
Sinner's background work underscores the esteem in which the world No. 1 holds Alcaraz, who looks certain to be the main adversary of his career. Every major final since the start of 2024 has had at least one of the pair featuring, and the signs were clear on Sunday that there's a mutual reverence between them.
"I would say we're preparing for everybody, not just one player," said Cahill after Sunday's win (via the Daily Express). "Because if you prepare somebody for just one player, other players are going to sneak up on you and cause huge problems. There are so many variations in playing styles these days.
"The way he played today against Carlos isn't going to work against Ben Shelton or Alexander Zverev. So you have to prepare a player to face all kinds of possibilities. But Carlos is a big focus, and they're both pushing each other.
‌
"I would say Jannik watches more of Carlos' matches than any other player, because he's fascinated by the improvements that are happening in Carlos' game, and he puts pressure on us as coaches to make sure he improves as a player, too. So the rivalry is real. It exists. And hopefully it will continue to exist for the next 10 or 12 years."
Sinner's meticulous study of Alcaraz's play was evident in the Wimbledon decider. It was there he exploited the Spaniard's forehand to create opportunities against the backhand, a strategy that saw him rally from behind to clinch victory.
‌
The Italian, who earned a cool £3million in London, displayed his prowess at the net in particular. He made nearly double the net approaches compared to Alcaraz, which proved to be a key element in keeping the Spaniard on the backfoot.
Alcaraz, 22, has been bested by Sinner in both of their grass encounters to date. That includes a last-16 matchup at Wimbledon three years prior.
Sinner advanced to Sunday's finale after benefiting from Grigor Dimitrov's retirement in their fourth-round duel while he was losing by two sets. And although Cahill has suggested he was confident in his player turning the tide in that clash, it certainly didn't look as certain from the outside.
That outcome serves as evidence that there's still room for improvement in his game, and he might not have made it to the finals had Dimitrov not suffered his pectoral injury. However, his research on Alcaraz was spot on.
Sinner is set to begin his defence of the US Open title in August when the fourth and final major of 2025 kicks off at Flushing Meadows. This could necessitate further preparation to overcome a rejuvenated Alcaraz, who will be more determined than ever to settle the score with his main adversary.