Jannik Sinner says it’s unlikely, but you never know – when asked if he and Carlos Alcaraz can match the theatre of French Open final played 35 days ago. Ahead of Sunday’s edition of the rivalry, where Alcaraz has won 5 of their last meetings, world number one Sinner hoped they could top Roland Garros.
“We saw the last final – you never know (what will happen). Hopefully it’s going to be a good match like the last one, I don’t know if it can be better because I don’t think it’s possible. But we will do our best,” Sinner said after the semis.
At Roland Garros, Alcaraz, the defending champion, came from two sets and three championship points down to beat Sinner on clay.
Both have been expectedly busy on grass with the Spaniard attempting to defend his Wimbledon crown, so Alcaraz hasn’t gone back to watching it. “I’ve just seen a few clips and a few points but not that much,” he had said after his semi-final win over Taylor Fritz, given he made the said history in the longest final. But he called it his finest match yet. “I am still thinking about that moment sometimes. It was the best match I have ever played so far. I’m not surprised he pushed me to the limit. I expect that on Sunday,” he said.
2025 has been a Grand Slam premium year, as it’s the first time since 1978 that top two seeds have battled for the men’s singles crown in first three Slams of the year in Open era, according to BBC.
It’s kept Novak Djokovic from winning his 25th. “I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with tank half empty,” he said.
However, both the protagonists are grounded in making comparisons and Sinner reiterates they are still Sone way off Federer, Nadal and Djokovic heyday.
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“You cannot compare what the big three did for 15-plus years. Six Grand Slams are one-and-a-half years. It’s not that big yet,” he was quoted saying by BBC.
As per BBC’s MatchMathMan, Sinner, has lost just 11 of the 127 matches he has contested – meaning almost half of his losses in that time have been to Alcaraz.
However, at Wimbledon, their last meeting saw Sinner win. In 2022. Alcaraz remembered it vividly. “I remember that match, but it was three years ago. We are completely different player on grass, but on all surfaces. I’m pretty sure that it’s going to be different,” Alcaraz stated.
