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IOL News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Rivalry with Jannik Sinner 'great' for tennis, says Carlos Alcaraz
Tennis' new rivalry Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Italy's Jannik Sinner pose for pictures at the end of their men's singles final match for the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 18, 2025. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP Image: Tiziana Fabi/AFP Reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz said Friday his budding rivalry with Jannik Sinner was good for the sport, as the Spaniard prepares to begin his Roland Garros campaign which could culminate with a blockbuster final against the Italian top seed. Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the last five Grand Slam titles between them, with the Spaniard claiming the French Open and Wimbledon last year, while Sinner opened his major account with victory in the Australian Open in 2024 before winning the US Open and defending his Melbourne title in January. "I think for the people, for the tennis fans, I think it's great to have a match-up from some players that make them excited about watching that match," Alcaraz told his pre-tournament press conference. "Right now I think the people are excited every time that I'm facing Jannik. Our matches I think are a really high quality of tennis. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "I think for the people and probably the people who don't like watching tennis, I think (our rivalry) is something that because of that (they have) started to watch tennis." The 22-year-old nonetheless tempered expectations by insisting the rivalry was not yet on a par with some of the great match-ups in tennis history such as Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal or Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe. 'Legends' "I'm not gonna put myself or the great rivalry that I have with Jannik at (the) same level as those legends," Alcaraz said. "Let's see in the future how it's gonna be. Right now for sure I'm not going to put ourselves into that table of that rivalries, but I think people are excited about watching our matches." Fans were given a mouthwatering appetiser ahead of Roland Garros when Alcaraz and Sinner met in the final of the Italian Open last Sunday. Despite not having played since the Australian Open in January due to a three-month doping suspension, world number one Sinner bulldozed his way to the final. But Alcaraz stopped the 23-year-old from claiming victory in his home Masters with a dominant 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 performance that also put paid to a 26-match winning streak for the Italian. Alcaraz's run to the semis in Rome moved him to number two in the world, ensuring he would come into Paris as the second seed behind Sinner. However, beyond the top two, Alcaraz praised the overall strength in depth at the upper echelons of the men's game. "I think in general, the top 20, 25, 30, they have really high level of tennis," he said. "We could see it right now, for example, (Jakub) Mensik is 20, 21 (ranking), and he won Miami. That means how strong is the top 30 right now. "Probably, like, 10 years ago, the top 10 was much stronger than now, could be, but in general, the top 30 I think right now is really, really strong." Alcaraz faces a potentially tricky first-round tie after being drawn against former world number four Kei Nishikori. The 35-year-old Japanese player is now ranked 62, but Alcaraz said he's taking nothing for granted against a "legend" of the sport. "Honestly, I'm really excited about facing Nishikori for the first time. "I'm watching him play a lot when I was young. I was really happy when he came back again on tour. I know that he has been struggling physically the last year, a lot of injuries that kept him away from playing. "I know when he plays good tennis, (he's) really tough to beat. So I have to be ready for that, for the first round... I'm excited to play against a legend like Nishikori." AFP Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Toronto Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Alcaraz beats Sinner again to win the Italian Open and solidify his status as French Open favourite
Published May 18, 2025 • 3 minute read Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Italy's Jannik Sinner pose for pictures at the end of their men's singles final match for the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 18, 2025. Photo by TIZIANA FABI / AFP via Getty Images ROME — There's only one player who is consistently beating Jannik Sinner. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Carlos Alcaraz defeated the top-ranked player again, beating Sinner 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win his first Italian Open on Sunday and add another big clay-court title to his resume. Since the start of last year, Alcaraz is the only player to beat Sinner more than once and now he's done it four straight times. 'Just proud about myself, the way that I approached the match mentally. Tactically think I did it pretty well from the first to the last point,' Alcaraz said. 'I maintained my level during the whole match.' Alcaraz's victory before Sinner's home fans at the Foro Italico snapped the Italian's 26-match winning streak, which stretched back to October — when Alcaraz beat him in the China Open final in a third-set tiebreaker. Alcaraz now leads the career series 7-4. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was Sinner's first tournament back after a three-month doping ban. 'I'm just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level,' Alcaraz said. 'I'm sure it wasn't easy for him coming back from three months without playing. Making the final here is something insane.' Alcaraz also solidified his status as the favourite to defend his title at the French Open, which starts next Sunday. Alcaraz spoils Sinner's return Sinner was playing his first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. In February, Sinner agreed to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that raised questions, since the three-month suspension allowed him not to miss any Grand Slams, and come back at his home tournament. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sinner said he and his team went through 'three months that were anything but easy, so achieving this result already here is really big' and that 'we should be really proud.' He added: 'We're bringing home a very special trophy, even if I wanted the other one.' Sinner was attempting to become the first home man to win the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976. He was also trying to complete a sweep of the Rome singles titles for Italy after Jasmine Paolini won the women's trophy on Saturday. Paolini and partner Sara Errani also defended their women's doubles title earlier Sunday, making Paolini the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to sweep Rome's singles and doubles titles in the same year. A large number of the 10,500 fans in Campo Centrale were decked out in orange — Sinner's theme color — and they were chanting Sinner's name before the match even began. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But Sinner wasted two set points on Alcaraz's serve when he led 6-5 in the first set and then Alcaraz jumped ahead in the tiebreaker with two aces and held on to seal it before cruising in the second set. On Alcaraz's third match point, Sinner ran down a drop shot but Alcaraz was waiting for his reply and hit a stretch volley winner into the open court. Alcaraz then held his hands out wide and flashed a wide smile. Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, will move back up to No. 2 in the rankings on Monday after his third final in three clay-court events this season. He won the Monte Carlo Masters and finished runner-up in the Barcelona Open before withdrawing from the Madrid Open because of injury. Having also won the Madrid Open in 2022 and 2023, Alcaraz became the fifth man to win all three Masters 1000 clay events after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gustavo Kuerten and Marcelo Rios. Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Sports World Sunshine Girls
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Sinner and Paolini to lead Italian tennis
Jannik Sinner signs autographs after his semi-final match against Tommy Paul at the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome. PHOTO: AFP The Foro Italico (Italian Forum) has lived up to its name this past week as Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini have given home fans a local hero to cheer for in both singles finals at the Italian Open. Sinner can end a near five-decade wait for an Italian winner of the men's tournament in Rome, with Adriano Panatta way back in 1976 the last man to claim the title for a home player. The world number one takes on rival Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster final for tennis fans who have watched Sinner return from his three-month doping ban for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities accept was accidental. The 23-year-old was the first Italian to win a Grand Slam tournament since Panatta, again since 1976, when he won the Australian Open in January 2024. He then became the first of his compatriots to claim top spot in the world rankings in June, and then the first to win the year-ending ATP Finals, claiming glory in Turin. But Sinner, already a winner of 19 titles including three Grand Slams, is not alone at the top of the game as attested by Italy winning both the Davis Cup and, led by Wimbledon and Roland Garros finalist Paolini, the Billie Jean King Cup in 2024. Italian men have won 31 ATP titles since the start of 2016, compared to just eight in the previous decade. Lorenzo Musetti made his debut in the top 10 of the world rankings this week after reaching the Monte Carlo final last month and going deep in other tournaments, including a run to the semi-finals in Rome. Nine Italian, including Luciano Darderi and Flavio Cobolli -- winners in Marrakech and Bucharest in the same week in March -- are in the men's top 100. Only the USA and France have more with 10 each. At the start of the century the best Italian man was Andrea Gaudenzi at 54th in the world, who is the current president of the ATP, while the Italian men's team played in the third tier of the Davis Cup. Italian tennis' revival began among its women, with four Fed Cup wins between 2006 and 2013, Francesco Schiavone's French Open title in 2010 and Flavia Pennetta's at the US Open five years later. And Paolini is gunning for her first 100 series trophy against former US Open champion Coco Gauff on Saturday evening, the first in Rome for an Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. But after some good showing from Fabio Fognini who became the first Italian to win a Masters 1000 tournament, at Monte Carlo in 2019, men's tennis upped its game with the arrival of 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini and Sinner. "It's the result of 15 years of good work within the federation (FITP), starting from the clubs up to the top level and with a lot of international tournament in all ages groups," said Spanish former world number seven Emilio Sanchez, now a coach. "They've decentralised the organisation of their youth structure. Before everyone had to go through a national training centre and be taken away from their home environment. Now the federation goes to the players, and funds them." Filippo Volandri, the head of top-level men's tennis training for the FITP, says that the decentralisation, a wide network of coaches and access from a young age to both physical and mental trainers, allows "all young players to express their potential. "That's the big difference between what we did before, when we saw that Italian players matured late or never reached their full potential," said Volandri. The FITP, headed since 2001 by Angelo Binaghi, has also implemented a plan to build hard courts in a clay-court dominated country, a move which has also been accompanied by a change in playing style and training. "We prioritise tactics over technique, and to serves and returns ahead of repetitive coaching of forehand or backhand strokes," Michelangelo Dell'Edera, the director of the FITP's Higher Training Institute, told AFP. AFP
Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Carlos Alcaraz battles into Italian Open quarter-finals
ROME: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning against Russia's Karen Khachanov during their men's singles match at the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 13, 2025. – AFP Sinner continue his Foro Italico comeback from doping ban
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Alcaraz, Sabalenka post wins at Italian Open
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after victory against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic for the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 9. PHOTO: AFP Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his bid for a first Italian Open title by cruising past Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 in Rome on Friday on his return to action from a thigh injury. World number three Alcaraz got past Lajovic in one hour and 23 minutes in his first match since suffering the injury in his Barcelona Open final defeat to Holger Rune last month. The Spaniard showed some signs of ring rustiness with 22 unforced errors but still managed to win the first four games of the match to give Lajovic too much to do in the first set. And Alcaraz closed out the match in professional style with another quick start in the second set which put him three games ahead, allowing him to serve out for the win. "Today was a really good day in the office, hopefully tomorrow and Sunday is going to be better," said Alcaraz. "Of course I tried to make the most of my time, when I'm not playing tournaments I always try to find the positive things... I could stay at home more with my friends, with my family, recovering and getting a little bit fresh mentally. "It was a great performance, a great level, which was surprising for me a little bit but I'm just really happy for that." Alcaraz will now face one of Alex Michelsen and Laslo Djere in the third round as he eyes a potential final with world number one Jannik Sinner in the Italian capital. Sinner will make his comeback from a three-month doping ban on Saturday when he takes on Mariano Navone in front of what will be a partisan crowd at the Foro Italico. Alcaraz later told reporters that he would take it easy on his day off, keep an eye on Sinner's match and go to watch his friend Patric play for Serie A football club Lazio against Juventus at the nearby Stadio Olimpico. One of Alcaraz's potential opponents in the last 16, Grigor Dimitrov, fell at the first hurdle against wild card entrant Francesco Passaro. Home hope Lorenzo Musetti opened his week, his first in the top 10 of the men's world rankings, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Otto Virtanen. In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka cruised past Anastasia Potapova and into the third round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. She swept past Russian Potapova in just over an hour. AFP
