Carlos Alcaraz Reveals How Jannik Sinner Inspires Him to ‘Play at Great Level’ After Dominating Tommy Paul in Paris

For many tennis fans, nothing can be better than watching Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner knock their respective opponents down on opposite nights. If this continues for one more time, then they will be pitted against each other in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

Sinner’s results in the previous matches were better than Alcaraz’s, given that he has not yet dropped a set and has been serving breadsticks and bagels to his opponents. The Spaniard has dropped three sets against three different opponents but in the quarterfinal, Tommy Paul registered a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 defeat, and the result sent Alcaraz to his third semifinal at the Roland Garros.

It was Sinner who Alcaraz overcame in five sets in the semifinals last year en route to his maiden French Open triumph. Alcaraz told reporters after his win over Paul that the World No.1’s matches always inspire him to stay focused throughout his matches.

And yeah, let’s say he’s inspiring me in some ways just to give my 100% every match. And I see him, how important it is just to play such a great level in the whole match, just have more time to recover after the match. I’m trying to do it as well. Trying to be really focused during the whole match. And see the importance of having more time to recover for the next matches.

The 22-year-old holds a 7-4 lead over the three-time Grand Slam champion in their head-to-head matchups and had also beaten him in their last four matches, which includes the final of the Italian Open they played before arriving in the French capital. After knocking out Andrey Rublev, Sinner has set up a quarterfinal clash with Alexander Bublik, who came from a set down to eliminate reigning Indian Wells champion Jack Draper.

The 23-year-old Italian holds a 3-1 head-to-head lead over the Kazakh ace and will be meeting him for the first time on clay. Bublik had won their last encounter, in the quarterfinal of the 2023 Halle Open.

Carlos Alcaraz to play Lorenzo Musetti next

Things are not expected to be easy for Carlos Alcaraz as he will face another challenge in the semifinal in the form of Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian ace, however, tasted success against the four-time Grand Slam champion just once in their six meetings.