Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner Prepare for Next Chapter in Rivalry

Posted : 24 September 2025

World number one Carlos Alcaraz said Wednesday that he expects a stronger and more unpredictable Jannik Sinner the next time they meet on court, following his victory over the Italian in the US Open final earlier this month. Sinner acknowledged the need to revise his “predictable” game after a series of recent defeats to the Spaniard.

This week, Alcaraz is competing at the Japan Open in Tokyo, while Sinner will make his first appearance since the US Open at the China Open in Beijing. Alcaraz highlighted that he must be ready for an evolved Sinner in future encounters.

“I know he's going to change something from the last match. It's the same thing that I did when I lost to him a couple of times—I tried to be a better player the next time I was going to face him,” Alcaraz said. “I have to be focused and I have to be ready for that change.”

The young rivals have dominated men’s tennis this season, contesting all four Grand Slam finals and splitting victories evenly. At just 22, Alcaraz and 24-year-old Sinner are widely expected to remain at the forefront of the sport for years.

“Our rivalry is getting better, which for me and for tennis is great,” Alcaraz commented. “We will see in the future how many times I’m going to play against him and under which circumstances. Right now, it’s going great.”

Alcaraz arrives in Tokyo following a surprising loss to American Taylor Fritz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco. The Japan Open features top seeds such as Fritz, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, and Tomas Machac.

Reflecting on his season, Alcaraz said it has been “the best season that I’ve ever done,” having won both the French Open and the US Open. He also expressed excitement about playing in Tokyo for the first time to experience Japanese culture and the energy of local fans.

Meanwhile, Sinner is using his off-season to make adjustments ahead of the China Open. The Italian lost the US Open final in four sets to Alcaraz, relinquishing his title and the world number one ranking.

“We’ve been reflecting a lot,” Sinner said, adding that he is changing several aspects of his game to become less predictable. While the refinements currently lead to more errors, he hopes they will pay off in the long run. Sinner will start his campaign against Croatia’s Marin Cilic on Thursday.

The “Sincaraz” rivalry has quickly become the most prominent in men’s tennis, but legendary player Roger Federer has warned that tournaments risk becoming less engaging due to slow court surfaces that favor the two stars. Sinner acknowledged the lack of variety in court speeds on tour but said he is focused on adapting and improving his game wherever he plays.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner Prepare for Next Chapter in Rivalry

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