Jannik Sinner made it clear that the battle for the top ranking is not driving him right now, even as comparisons with Carlos Alcaraz continue to dominate the conversation. Speaking after a hard-fought three-set win over Tomáš Macháč at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Sinner emphasized that his focus remains on performance and titles rather than the No. 1 spot.
A Closer Look at Jannik Sinner’s Dominant Start and Tomáš Macháč’s Mid-Match Fightback in Monte-Carlo
Making his fifth appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Sinner entered the tournament as the second seed. He began his campaign with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ugo Humbert after receiving a first-round bye. That form carried into the early stages of his clash with Macháč, where he stormed through the first set 6-1 in under 30 minutes.
However, the match soon turned into unfamiliar territory for Sinner, as Macháč raised his level and snapped the Italian’s remarkable run of 37 consecutive Masters 1000 sets by taking the second set in a 7-6(3) tiebreak.
Sinner maintained his composure in the third set, while Macháč struggled with a nagging shoulder issue that required a medical timeout. Sinner broke serve in the final game to secure a 6-3 finish, extending his Masters 1000 winning streak to 19 matches.
The race for World No. 1 is a two-man sprint between Alcaraz and Sinner. While Alcaraz currently holds the top spot with 12790 points, his lead is fragile because he has massive points to defend as the reigning champion in Monte-Carlo.
The momentum is currently with Sinner, who has zero points to defend this spring after missing last year’s Monte-Carlos campaign. This means Sinner, who currently has 12600 points, can overtake Alcaraz as early as next week if he wins the Monte-Carlo Masters.
What did Sinner say about competing with Carlos Alcaraz for No. 1?
Speaking in a press conference after the match, Sinner focused less on the streak and more on the daily challenges of competing at the highest level. “Today wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I managed to fight and find a way to win,” he said. “In my head, every day is different.”
MORE: Jannik Sinner Gets Brad Gilbert Backing Over Carlos Alcaraz With Rare Monte-Carlo Feat in Sight
The Italian also highlighted the comfort of playing in Monaco, noting, “Playing here is nice because I can sleep in my own bed and I know the city very well. This place transforms and becomes even more beautiful. Every day is different. I’ve had a string of tournaments and came here without much preparation. First match was great, then I was struggling a bit, but when I needed to, I brought the right energy.”
Sinner pointed to the decisive third set as proof of his ability to respond under pressure. “In the third set, I put in more energy and won it because the important thing was to bring the match home,” he explained. “A physical dip can happen. We maximized our training, we won the match, and I know every day is different and that I can raise my level.”
Looking beyond the match, Sinner made it clear his priorities extend past rankings. “I think we’re both aware of the situation, me and Carlos [Alcaraz]. I’m playing this tournament and I won’t play next week. I’m not here chasing No. 1. I’m here because Monaco is home, and the best training is the match itself. We know right away where we can work. We play for the titles, the ranking is secondary right now.”
Looking ahead, Sinner advanced to the quarterfinal, where he will take on sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. This is going to be their seventh meeting on the ATP Tour, with the Italian holding a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head record. The winner of this match will face either João Fonseca or the third seed, Alexander Zverev, in the semifinal.
