Carlos Alcaraz raised the level of his rivalry with Jannik Sinner from the beginning of this season. With the win at Internazionali BNL d’Italia, he tied Sinner’s 19 tour-level titles for the most among players born in the 2000s. Together, they’ve clinched the last seven Grand Slam titles, the fourth-longest duopoly streak in the Open Era. Their first-ever Grand Slam Final at Roland Garros this year was one to remember. Winning their 12th matchup, Sinner finally broke Alcaraz’s five-match winning streak in the pair’s Lexus ATP head-to-head rivalry with an aggressive yet measured performance. But if you ask them, their thoughts are quite different:

Alcaraz on Sinner: “I’m really happy to be able to build a really good relationship off the court but then a good rivalry on the court. It makes me improve every day, so thank you very much and congratulations.”
Sinner on Alcaraz: “I feel like it’s always great when we meet. We try to push ourself and each other to the limits. He for me is a [reference] point of where I work.” 

With Sinner’s incredible power and precision alongside Alcaraz’s style and athleticism, the two have solidified their place as modern classics in a sport that was stepping out of its golden era. But if you ask their coaches? The competitive fire is there, but Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, is not keeping all the secrets among themselves.

Appearing on FanDuel Sports Network’s show, Cahill talked about the relationship between the two players who are touted to go against each other at the US Open final. He said, “Carlos is a phenom. He’s a great guy. Off the court, he’s always smiling. What you see on the court is what you see off the court. Jannik and him, look, I wouldn’t say they’re best friends. But they are very friendly. There is a great friendly rivalry between the two players, which I think is healthy, and they are pushing each other.

“We’re practicing on the same court right next to each other, even today. And us as coaches can’t help but wander across to look at what they’re working on and see what Juan Carlos Ferreira was doing with Carlos’ game, and they’re exactly the same. I saw Ferreira looking across to our court to see what Jannik was doing as well. So I think the rivalry is really healthy and certainly great for tennis, considering we’ve just come off the golden era with Novak, Roger, Rafa, and also Andy Murray. So it’s great for tennis.”

You can see the mutual admiration in how they work. Each player’s success seems to push the other to get better. Cahill pointed out that Jannik Sinner pays more attention to Alcaraz’s matches than anyone else. He breaks down his innovations and adjustments to stay one step ahead. The bond between the two goes beyond just small talk; it shapes how they train and creates an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing and learning from each other. There’s been a noticeable change in the world of tennis.

The intense secrecy that used to surround rivalries is now shifting towards a more collaborative vibe, even though the competition is still very much alive. Unlike the tensions between legends like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Sinner and Alcaraz show us a fresh approach where friendship can thrive alongside some serious competition. No doubt, tennis fans are always looking forward to an exciting match between these two. However, back in Cincinnati, when another match was set for the two, Sinner had to retire early. But he first apologized to the audience.

Jannik Sinner was quite candid about the Cincinnati final

In the much-anticipated Cincinnati Open final, Jannik Sinner had to retire just 23 minutes in, trailing Carlos Alcaraz 0-5. The defending champion, who had been on fire all tournament long, ended up falling sick in the scorching heat. Even though there were efforts to pull things together, his condition took a turn for the worse, resulting in an early goodbye.

During the trophy ceremony, Sinner spoke to the crowd, saying, “Usually I start with the opponent but today I have to start with you guys. I’m super, super sorry to disappoint you. From yesterday I didn’t feel great. I thought I would improve during the night. It came up worse. I tried to come out and make it at least a small match but I couldn’t handle more.

“I’m very, very sorry for all of you. I know some of you on Monday maybe had to work or do something else, so I’m very, very sorry. Of course, Carlos, congrats. Another title. Not the way you wanted to win but it’s amazing what kind of season you’re producing. You and your whole team are doing amazing. Keep it up. I wish you only all the best for the U.S. Open and the rest of the season.”

Even though the Cincinnati final ended suddenly and in heartbreak, Jannik Sinner’s heartfelt apology to the fans, showing genuine regret for letting them down, had a stronger impact than any outcome could. His humility and graciousness, even when he didn’t win, showed what a true champion is all about.