After a dominating 7-6, 6-1 victory over Jannik Sinner in the final of the Italian Open, Carlos Alcaraz was asked an interesting question during the post-match press conference. The Spaniard was asked about remarks Sinner made just before the tournament, in which the Italian admitted he was surprised by the silence from certain players during his controversial three-month absence from the tour.
Sinner’s comments, while not aimed at anyone in particular, hinted at a sense of isolation during his time away from competition. Though he did not name names, the suggestion that some fellow players stopped communicating with him drew attention across the tennis world.
Alcaraz, when asked whether he was among those Sinner might have been referring to, responded with honesty and thoughtfulness. While confirming that he didn’t reach out to Sinner during his time away, the Spaniard made it clear that it wasn’t due to any personal disagreement or disapproval.
"Well, I mean that three months I can feel him because I wasn't in that position. But I mean, I can understand him, that he was surprised about some players who didn't call him," said Alcaraz. “I wasn't, or I didn't call him. I didn't talk to him, you know, in that that three months. But it wasn't about if I was agreed or not.".
“I mean, it was about I was playing, I was (busy) in my things as well. So honestly, I mean, I can understand him — that he was surprised about some other players who didn't, who didn't call him,” continued the Spaniard.
Alcaraz says he doesn’t know if Sinner was referring to Alcaraz or someone else when he made those comments.
“It is in his rights to say, I have to say that I don't know, if he was or he said that because of me or not? But I don't know if he was thinking about me,” said Alcaraz. “He wasn't thinking about me — I don't know that, but what I can say is, I worry (about) him, you know, when he got injured, sometimes, just to, you know, giving him my good energy, just to have him back as soon as possible.”
Alcaraz, the gladiator, marches through Rome #IBI25 pic.twitter.com/qmJjATE8qS
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 18, 2025
“So, it is about terms of we're playing, we're fighting each other. So, in that three months I mean, I can understand him what he said, but I honestly, I don't know if he was thinking about some players or others,” added Alcaraz with a smile.
Sinner’s warm hug with Alcaraz at the net after the defeat suggests that the Italian was not talking about Alcaraz when he made those comments. Alcaraz will now head into Roland-Garros (French Open) as the clear favorite after winning two titles in Monte Carlo and Rome and making the final in Barcelona.
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