While Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner enjoy a strong personal rapport, their on-court rivalry has become the defining story of modern tennis. The Spanish and Italian stars split the Grand Slam titles in 2024, consistently battled for the World No. 1 ranking, and delivered thrilling matches at the sport’s biggest stages. Their head-to-head record remains competitive, with Alcaraz leading 6-4.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has experienced some ups and downs. While capable of producing world-class tennis, inconsistency has crept into his game. This has been evident in 2025, where his season highlight so far is winning the ATP Rotterdam title.
Meanwhile, Sinner has navigated his own challenges, including a doping controversy. The Italian tested positive for a trace amount of clostebol in March 2024, a result he successfully argued was accidental. Nevertheless, he accepted a three-month suspension from February 4 to May 4, just ahead of the Masters 1000 event in Rome.
Speaking to the media ahead of his Monte-Carlo Masters debut, Alcaraz reflected on the heightened expectations during Sinner’s absence. “People thought that just because Sinner was out, Zverev and I should have won everything or played better than before. That’s not correct, starting with the fact that now there’s much more balance in the locker room, and many more players can go deep in tournaments,” Alcaraz explained.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain trains on the practice courts as coach Samuel Lopez looks on during day one of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I’m not surprised I haven’t reclaimed the No. 1 spot, even though many people keep expecting me to win everything. A lot of people told me I should take advantage of Jannik’s absence to get back to the top,” he continued. “Probably, that pressure has killed me in some way. Even with Jannik not playing, the reality is I’m too far from him… and now, on clay, I won’t have the chance to climb back up. I’m just going to focus on giving my best”.
see also
Grand Slam record holder weighs in on Alcaraz and Sinner being Djokovic, Nadal, Federer’s successors
Clay season: Alcaraz’s time to shine
The European clay-court swing officially kicked off this week, marking a crucial stretch in the tennis calendar. The season includes Masters 1000 tournaments in Monte–Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, culminating in the crown jewel of clay-court tennis: Roland Garros.
Alcaraz thrives on this surface and faces significant challenges in 2025, as he must defend his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Following the French Open, the tour transitions to grass, leading to the historic and prestigious Wimbledon Championships.
How Alcaraz has fared during Sinner’s suspension
- ATP Rotterdam: Champion, defeated De Minaur in the final.
- ATP Doha: Quarterfinal exit, lost to Lehecka.
- Masters 1000 Indian Wells: Semifinal loss to Draper.
- Masters 1000 Miami: First-round exit, lost to Goffin.
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