✨ Check out this trending post from BBC Sport 📖
📂 Category:
✅ Here’s what you’ll learn:
The big question, at the end of a season in which their rivalry has reached the stratosphere, is where things can go from here.
The answer likely lies in Sinner’s admission that he needs to adapt. Specifically, to be less one-dimensional – and more like a caraz.
Alcaraz, at the moment, is the only player with the weapons and unpredictability to really trouble Sinner, armed with his prowess with his shots and cuts, and his willingness to get to the back of the net.
By contrast, Sinner leads the ATP Tour in usage of key shots (88%) – those that travel across the opponent’s baseline – meaning he plays with the least variety of any player.
Often times, it doesn’t need to be. Until he meets Alcaraz.
There have already been signs of a shift in Sinner’s approach since the US Open.
Although it was just a quick shot, Sinner’s use of variety shots was 25.9% the same as Alcaraz’s in his opening match at the Vienna Open in October.
It does not look like their dominance will end any time soon.
Far from dominating the Grand Slams, Djokovic is the only player, other than Alcaraz and Siner, to have won more than 20 ATP Tour titles since the start of 2020. All three have won 24 titles.
But at 38, Djokovic is still without the outright record of a 25th major singles title that he has been chasing since he equaled Margaret Court’s all-time title total at the US Open in 2023.
Few would bet against anyone denying Alcaraz and Sinner another sweep of next year’s grand final clashes, but fans will be keen to watch for signs pointing to a third contender in the new season.
After losing to 19-year-old Joao Fonseca in the final of the Swiss Indoor Championships last month, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina identified the Brazilian as the only player who could compete with Alcaraz and Siner.
Fellow top 20 players Ben Shilton, Jack Draper, Casper Ruud and Jakub Mencic will all be hoping to continue their run after winning the ATP Masters 1000 title this year.
But for now, Alcaraz and Siner continue to measure themselves against each other.
💬 Tell us your thoughts in comments!
#️⃣ #Jannik #Sinner #Carlos #Alcaraz
