Reigning French Open champ Carlos Alcaraz explains what makes his rivalry with Jannik Sinner so special

With the era of the Big Three now in the past, the global tennis spotlight has shifted to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The two currently hold the top spots in the ATP Rankings, and their rivalry continues to grow with each passing week. Now, just days before beginning his Roland Garros campaign, the Spanish star reflected on that dynamic.

“I’ve said it many times; our rivalry is great because our matches are very tactical,” Alcaraz said during a press conference Friday in Paris, as shared by the official ATP Tour website. His comments come just days after he defeated the Italian star in the final of the Rome Open.

“Obviously Jannik had an incredible week in Rome, but he had had three months off, and that lack of competition makes a difference, especially as you progress in the big tournaments,” the Spanish player explained, making it clear that last Sunday’s 7-6, 6-1 result may not accurately reflect the gap between them.

After their meeting in the Rome final, the next possible clash between the two would be in the championship match at Roland Garros. As the top two seeds in the tournament, they are placed on opposite ends of the draw, meaning a showdown could only occur in the final. “I’m sure the next time we play he’ll change things. He’ll try to improve. I’ll also try to improve to try and beat him again,” said Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz will make his Roland Garros debut on Monday

Alcaraz compares rivalry with Sinner to the Big Three

Expanding on his rivalry with Jannik Sinner—and the way both players constantly push each other to raise their game and evolve strategically—Alcaraz drew comparisons to the legendary trio that dominated men’s tennis over the past two decades. “That’s what the Big Three did for so many years. Rafa (Nadal) also had a number of streaks beating Djokovic, then vice versa, and the same with Federer,” said the current World No. 2.

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“There will be streaks and I have to be ready because I’m not going to beat him in every match. That’s the way it is, we can’t always beat him. Every time I play him it’s a mental, tactical and physical battle of the highest order. So you have to be ready for whatever may come,” Carlos added.

Alcaraz begins Roland Garros title defense

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Roland Garros title in 2024, defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. One year later, he will begin his title defense on Monday, May 26, against Italian Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced Kei Nishikori after the Japanese player withdrew due to injury. If he advances, the Spanish star will face either Fabian Marozsan or Luca Nardi in the next round.