PARIS (AP) – Top-ranked Jannik Sinner has yet to lose a set in his quest for his first French Open title. He faced defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday, who dropped four sets in his matches leading up to the final.
The only tiebreaker Sinner encountered was during his semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic on Friday, marking his 20th consecutive win in Grand Slam tournaments.
“Jannik is currently the best tennis player,” stated Alcaraz, who is ranked second. “He’s dominating all his opponents throughout the semi-finals.”
Despite this, Alcaraz possesses a significant advantage.
With a 21-1 record on clay this year, he secured the title in Rome, defeating Sinner in the final after returning from his suspension. Doping is prohibited – and also triumphed in Monte Carlo.
Alcaraz has won the last four matches against Sinner, leading their overall head-to-head 7-4. Despite being a year younger at 22, he has won more majors (4-3) and has previous experience in the French Open finals.
Djokovic holds the record for the most men’s Grand Slam titles, totaling 24 100, having triumphed against many of the great players of his era.
Nevertheless, he has felt the intense aggression of Sinner’s forehand and powerful serve, having suffered a straight sets defeat on Friday – marking his fourth consecutive loss to Sinner.
Djokovic has also faced two Wimbledon Final defeats against the Spaniard, showcasing a magical ability to hit shots from anywhere on the court, often delivering a harder blow than Sinner.
Recognizing the challenge posed by both players, Djokovic remarked, “Sinner and Alcaraz consistently apply pressure as the match progresses.”
He added, “Opportunities are few and far between, creating a sense of urgency.”
The Bigger Picture for Sinner
Sinner noted that maintaining calmness was essential in his victory over Djokovic, especially when pushed hard in the third set.
“It’s crucial to take your time. Grasping the moments in the game is vital. I feel I’ve improved significantly,” he expressed. “My mental game is in the right place.”
This mental aspect may give him an advantage over Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, known for his crowd-pleasing style, often appeared more anxious at Roland Garros. He faced challenges against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals, eventually winning in four sets after Musetti retired due to a leg injury.
However, he stated he is “not worried” about dropping sets.
“I know I have time and am mentally strong enough to recover,” Alcaraz asserted.
He demonstrated his ability to comeback from 2-1 down in sets during last year’s French Open final, defeating Alexander Zverev, another powerful server like Sinner.
His comeback featured remarkable forehand winners and strategic drop shots throughout the match.
A Significant Win for Tennis Fans
However, Sinner has been performing better than Alcaraz, showcasing his finesse with adept drop shots that even surprised Djokovic.
Whether Alcaraz holds a 5-3 edge in major titles or Sinner levels it at 4-4, this could signify the emergence of a thrilling rivalry, reminiscent of the epic showdown for dominance among Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal?
“At this moment, it’s challenging since I have to compete against each of them relentlessly for at least 10 years to be in the same conversation,” joked Djokovic, 38, on Friday. “But they are undoubtedly great for tennis. Both offer immense value to the sport. I believe their rivalry is essential for our game.”
AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Source: apnews.com