Carlos Alcaraz: 'Sinner and I push each other beyond our limits — my goal is to be No.1 again'

Carlos Alcaraz is looking forward to being a central figure in the second part of the season, starting with the hard court tournaments in the U.S.A. In 2025, the Spaniard has already claimed five titles–including the French Open–reached the Wimbledon final, and put together a remarkable 24-match winning streak.

It’s no coincidence that he’s currently leading the Race for No.1. However, his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, is close behind despite missing three months due to a suspension following the Clostebol case. The two have clearly established themselves as the dominant forces on tour, especially when the stakes are highest, having split the last seven Grand Slam titles.

Everyone is expecting another showdown between them in New York, possibly in the US Open final. But fans will have to wait nearly two weeks to see them back on court, as both players have withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto.

Alcaraz Talks About Sinner

Currently, Alcaraz is in Spain, where he took a short break, spending a few days in Cádiz before attending an event in Madrid. While in the capital, he gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, an Italian newspaper, where he opened up about his goals and his rivalry with Sinner.

“Our matches, like the recent ones at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, are always highly anticipated,” Alcaraz said. “The more we face each other, the more we help grow the sport, because every time we play, we push ourselves beyond our limits.”

On his personal relationship with the Italian, he added:

“Sinner and I are good friends. We can talk about many things off the court. I have great respect for him–he’s a great person–and I’m sure we’ll always be able to maintain this relationship.”

About the French Open Triumph

Reflecting on his dramatic win in the French Open final, Alcaraz admitted:

“I still don’t know how I managed to turn that match around. The truth is that in sport–and not only in sport–you have to keep believing, right until the end. That was the key: believing that you can win, even in the most difficult moments.”

Alcaraz Admits: “I Want to Be No.1 Again”

“Right now, my primary goal is to reclaim the top spot in the rankings,” he said. “Last year, after the Olympics, I struggled to find my form and didn’t achieve great results. From now on, I won’t have many points to defend, so I see a big opportunity.”

The conditions during the upcoming hard-court swing may favor Sinner — last year, the Italian won in Cincinnati, the US Open, Shanghai, and the ATP Finals. Still, Alcaraz remains confident. He also excels on hard courts, having lifted the US Open trophy in 2022, and he’s eager to bounce back after a disappointing end to last season.

“I know Sinner doesn’t care about defending points; he’s a great fighter who always plays to win and doesn’t let that affect him. But I’m ready for the challenge.”