Jannik Sinner didn’t hold back after breezing past Alexander Bublik in New York, securing his spot among the last eight at the US Open. World No. 1 Sinner is closing in on another high-stakes duel with his closest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, and it’s the tension between these two keeps fans hooked. If you think playing your friend makes things easier, think again– the competition gets even more intense.
How Will Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Friendship Shape Their Rivalry at the US Open?
Right after clinching a quarterfinal spot at the US Open, Sinner opened up about his bond with Alcaraz. “I think that we have a good friendship also off the court,” Sinner said. “It is something great to see.” That approach isn’t just talk– these two spend time together outside the stadium and show it’s possible to stay friends without sacrificing intensity on the court.
The Italian broke it down even further: “We see that is possible. It’s not like you have to be enemies off the court.” But when game time hits, things are all business. “We are, of course, enemies when we step on the court,” Sinner said. “We try to play our best tennis, but it ends there.” He made it clear connections off the court don’t change the fierce battles once play starts.
The handshake is all it takes for things to go back to normal– rivalry ends, friendship resumes. “After the handshake, everything is fine again and that’s great to see. We have great teams around us. We have also a normal life outside of tennis.”
Despite chatter about his health after retiring in Cincinnati, Sinner has looked every bit the world No. 1 at the US Open. He dropped just one set across his first four matches, showing his dominance over Canadian Denis Shapovalov. The showdown against Bublik was over almost as soon as it started, with Sinner winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in 81 minutes.
That pushed his streak to eight straight Grand Slam quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Bublik battled through 13 double faults and 31 unforced errors, never really getting into rhythm.
What Does Carlos Alcaraz Think About His Rivalry With Jannik Sinner?
While Sinner talked up their friendship, Alcaraz hasn’t been shy about sharing his respect for the rivalry too. Leading 9-5 in head-to-head matches, Alcaraz recently gave his perspective in an interview with ‘Financial Times.’
According to Alcaraz, “Although tennis is an individual sport, we are with the same players every week, day in and day out … Jannik and I, who have had great battles on the court, see each other a lot off of it. We talk, we train together sometimes. And in the end you forge a good relationship, a beautiful relationship.”
He added, “We want to win and beat each other, but then off court, being good people and getting along is another matter.” The respect off-court doesn’t slow down their games one bit. Alcaraz has been on a tear at the US Open, not dropping a set in his first four matches. He rolled into the quarterfinals by taking out Arthur Rinderknech, closing with 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
The stage is set for a mouthwatering finish: Alcaraz faces No. 20 seed Jiri Lehecka for a spot in the semifinals. Sinner squares off against fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti to keep his campaign alive.
