'A beautiful and demanding rivalry,' Carlos Alcaraz hopes for a Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal relationship with Jannik Sinner years down the line

They (Federer-Nadal) had a very beautiful and demanding rivalry at the same time. What I have learned from this rivalry is that you can never stay behind, give up, or settle for yourself. You always have to improve, you always have to raise your level. Alcaraz said after his match against Baena

The Spaniard observed how the two, despite ruling the tennis world, still wanted to be better players, which is why he admired their rivalry.

Every time one lost to the other, he tried to be better to win the next time. And they did it for a long time, which is something incredible and worthy of admiration. I hope that I can have a rivalry like the one they have had. Right now, because of how people look at it, it could be with Jannik. Continuing further, Alcaraz added

Both Federer and Nadal are considered to be the greatest players in the sport’s history. They played against each other 40 times, with Nadal winning 24 matches. In the finals as well, the Spaniard leads 14-10.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head stats

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have faced each other eight times since 2021. Both of them have won four matches each to have a head-to-head record of 4-4.

Out of these eight matches, they played against each other on clay just once, in the Croatia Open, which the Italian won. They also played on grass court just once, at the 2022 Wimbledon, and here also, Alcaraz lost. In their last encounter at Indian Wells, Alcaraz emerged as the winner, with scores of 1-6, 6-3, and 6-2.

In the current Miami Open, Sinner went past Andrea Vavassori and Tallon Griekspoor in the previous two rounds. He will now face Christopher O’Connell in the Round of 16.