Jannik Sinner recently said he misses the chance to face arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz. The two have elevated men’s tennis in the last few years with their consistent play across surfaces. However, they have yet to compete against each other this year.
What Jannik Sinner Said About Missing Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner swept through the American hard courts to capture the elusive Sunshine Double in March. The world No. 2 defeated Daniil Medvedev to capture the Indian Wells title before beating Jiří Lehečka in straight sets to win the Miami Open.
Sinner is the first male player to achieve the Sunshine Double since Roger Federer in 2017. His recent dominant streak has pushed him closer to the absolute top spot in the ATP rankings.
Yet the 24-year-old says something vital has been absent from his dominant 2026 campaign. He has yet to face world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz. The two defining rivals of their generation have not stood on opposite sides of the net in a competitive ATP match this year.
Sinner recently acknowledged that he misses playing against the Spaniard. He knows that facing Alcaraz is the ultimate measuring stick in modern men’s tennis. The pair last met in the final of the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin.
“Yes, I do, I really do,” Sinner said during his interview with France TV Sport. “He’s a player, a rival, who pushes me to give my all…
“But we all know that if we want to compete, we have to get to the final. And the road to the final is very difficult because all the players are tough to beat. So we’ll see how it goes here.”
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz ‘Surprised’ by Jannik Sinner’s Monte-Carlo Decision As He Eyes Showdown
Alcaraz recognized Sinner’s massive Sunshine Double victory publicly. The top-ranked player shared a message for his rival on social media following the Miami final.
“Congratulations @janniksin and team for winning the Sunshine Double!” Alcaraz wrote on Instagram. The gesture highlighted the deep, enduring respect between the two young stars.
How Sinner and Alcaraz Are Battling for the ATP No. 1 Ranking
The rankings race will take center stage at the Monte Carlo Masters. Sinner has closed the gap significantly after his hard-court sweep, with only 1,190 points currently separating the two best players on the planet.
Alcaraz sits atop the tennis mountain with 13,590 points, while Sinner trails closely behind with 12,400 points. The upcoming clay tournaments will completely dictate who leaves Paris with the top overall seed.
Alcaraz started his 2026 season on a blistering 16-match winning streak. He looked unbeatable through the Australian summer and the early spring. But the Spaniard stumbled unexpectedly during the Sunshine Swing.
Medvedev eliminated Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semifinals. Sebastian Korda then handed him an early exit in Miami. Those tough losses opened the door for Sinner to make his aggressive move up the leaderboards.
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz Forced to Abandon Locker Superstition for Monte-Carlo Title Defense
The pressure now shifts to the European red dirt. Alcaraz is the defending champion at Monte Carlo. He must defend a full 1,000 points in the Principality just to hold off Sinner.
Sinner did not play Monte Carlo last year. He has absolutely nothing to defend and everything to gain over the next few weeks. The Italian can simply add points to his overall total with every single victory.
Clay has historically been Sinner’s most challenging professional surface. However, the Italian has vastly improved his movement on the slippery dirt.
He reached the final at both Rome and Roland Garros in 2025. He proved he can push Alcaraz to the absolute limit on his favorite surface.
