Carlos Alcaraz Explains What Makes Rivalry with Jannik Sinner Great with Big 3 Comparison

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are eyeing their careers’ second US Open title. If one of them wins, it will be the eighth consecutive Grand Slam title clinched by either Sinner or Alcaraz.

The Italian ace is chasing the rare triple Grand Slam in a season as he defended the Australian Open title and took home his career’s first Wimbledon trophy by denying the Spaniard a three-peat. Alcaraz, the season’s most successful player on the men’s tour with six titles (also played two more finals), defended the French Open after five tough sets against the World No.1.

Apart from them, Novak Djokovic is also a contender in the tournament. His retirement will mark an end of the Big 3 era that saw him and his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal win a combined 66 Grand Slam titles.

The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has marked a smooth transition from the Big 3 era. Since last year, no player has been successful in winning a Major other than Alcaraz and Sinner, with Djokovic’s last Grand Slam win being the 2023 US Open. Alcaraz, following his straight-set win over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, was asked at the press conference what makes a great rivalry.

Obviously, the matches. That’s the first thing. And which rounds we will play against each other. I mean, for what we are fighting for, I think that makes a really good rivalry. Right now, Jannik and I are fighting for the No. 1 spot. We’re fighting for the Grand Slams. We’ve played two finals already this year. A few Masters 1000 finals. So we’re fighting for the great things in tennis, and I think that makes a good rivalry.

Alcaraz will dethrone Sinner as the ATP No. 1 if he wins the tournament. He has already removed the four-time Grand Slam champion on the live rankings with 9,940 points.

That’s what we are making, making us a really good rivalry, and that’s what the Big 3 did. They played the Grand Slam final, and they split the No. 1 spot for a really long time.

Carlos Alcaraz added

Djokovic will lock horns with last year’s US Open runner-up, Taylor Fritz, in the quarterfinal. He is chasing his historic 25th Grand Slam title, and could meet Alcaraz in the semifinal and Sinner in the final.

Carlos Alcaraz will face Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz will be playing the quarterfinal of the US Open for the fourth time. He has also reached the last eight of every Major this season.