Sinner and Alcaraz: The fate of a new rivalry in tennis
After the Big Three, if the next great rivalry in tennis is to continue, Sinner must conquer Alcaraz's nemesis. For Sinner, if he wants to become a tennis superstar, he is at a critical juncture to cross the hurdle of Alcaraz. In the French Open final, Sinner held a two-set lead and three championship points (6-4/7-6/4-6/5-3/40:0) and was understandably thinking he had finally broken through Alcaraz's block. But the results were a big surprise.
Sinner and Alcaraz are only a few years apart in age and have made their mark in tennis together. In the early encounters, Sinner had the upper hand. They first met at the 2021 Paris Masters, and although Alcaraz eventually won, it took two tie-breaks to beat Sinner. However, this first win was an exception, as Sinner won four of the six meetings since, beating Alcaraz on grass, clay and hard courts. Alcaraz won just two matches in the United States during Sinner's strong winning streak, making Sinner the next tennis man.
But since 2024, the situation has reversed. Alcaraz has won all five of their last five meetings, three of them in the final, the first two in the semi-finals, on both hard and clay, and four times from a set down. When Sinner watched the three championship points disappear in Paris, only he knows whether he thought about the past. But the classic final undoubtedly gave Alcaraz a psychological advantage in what many see as the next era of tennis.
While veterans such as Novak Djokovic are still not to be underestimated, it is widely believed that Sinner and Alcaraz represent the highest level of men's tennis, and that they will dominate the ownership of Grand Slam titles for years to come. The duo have held the No. 1 spot in the world rankings for a total of 73 weeks since 2022 and don't seem to be relinquishing that position anytime soon. But the truly great competitive relationship must be built on the basis of alternating wins and losses.
Alcaraz's recent strong form puts this rivalry at risk of losing its suspense. Sinner's three Grand Slam titles have never beaten Alcaraz on his way to the title; Alcaraz has won three of his five Grand Slam titles, knocking out Sinner on his way to qualifying. Mentally and physically, Alcaraz has undoubtedly become a roadblock for Sinner.
This winning streak is not unique in tennis history, with John McEnroe beating Jimmy Connors 11 times in a row, Djokovic winning seven in a row against Nadal twice, Nadal beating Djokovic and Federer five times in a row, and Federer three times in a row. But the point is that the losing side will always fight back. The 23-year-old is not yet at the stage defined as "one step behind", but if he is to stand the test of time, he will have to turn the tide as soon as possible.
After the showdown on clay at Roland Garros, the grass season will be the duo's next battleground. For now, they will be warming up in different tournaments, with Sinner playing at the Halle Open and Alcaraz heading to the Queen's Cup, while the Wimbledon tournament at the end of this month has shown the prospect of a compelling matchup. Sinner still has the edge, at least on grass, having won the only grass-court meeting between the two in 2022. But for the 23-year-old, who is in the midst of one of the toughest years of his career so far, it's a moment of truth.
Winning the Australian Open was a bright spot in Sinner's controversy and ban over the year. A defeat in the French Open final could crush the best young talent. But I have to mention whether the negative impact of the "doping" incident will become a shadow in Sinner's heart. The white-hot moment of competition on the field, the image of a selfless sunny boy at the bottom of his heart, may become a boost to Alcaraz's personality.
If Alcaraz is a fiery passion, Sinner must awaken the cold-blooded side of his personality. Regardless of the outcome, Sinner will still retain his No. 1 spot in the world after the match. But if Alcaraz wins again, everyone will understand who is the real dominant force in tennis.
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