'I gave my best but Jannik's level was extraordinary': Carlos Alcaraz reflects on tough loss at Wimbledon

Carlos Alcaraz recently opened up about his burgeoning rivalry with Jannik Sinner, a captivating duel that now spans 13 matches, including their last two Grand Slam finals—at Roland Garros and Wimbledon—and four consecutive finals in their most recent encounters.

After a dominant run of 5 consecutive wins against Sinner, which put Alcaraz ahead 8-4 in their head-to-head, Sinner exacted revenge in the Wimbledon final. This match was arguably played at the peak of Alcaraz's career, following 20 consecutive wins and back-to-back titles at the All England Club in 2023 and 2024.

Sinner's victory was sweet revenge for his agonizing loss in the Roland Garros final, where he squandered three match points. His win also helped even out a rivalry where Alcaraz was beginning to establish a significant lead.

The head-to-head currently stands at 8-5 in favor of the Murcian, though the good news for the Italian is that he appears to have found the formula to trouble his formidable opponent.

Alcaraz on the rivalry and respect

"I think it's fantastic for tennis that we are building such a beautiful rivalry; I believe it will make more and more people interested in our sport," Alcaraz said. "Every time we face each other, we push each other beyond our limits. For me, the best thing about tennis is the mutual respect it promotes among rivals."

He added, "Sinner and I are good friends; we can talk about many things off the court. I am convinced that we will always maintain our relationship on these terms. He is a great person."

The Spaniard expressed satisfaction with his season, in which he has already won 5 titles and boasts an impressive 48-6 record. He also leads the ATP Race, with over 1,500 points separating him from Sinner, and has been qualified for the ATP Finals for several weeks, currently the only male player with his spot 100% secured.

Mindset is key: Alcaraz on mental fortitude and overcoming defeats

"I have done very important things; I achieved key goals set at the beginning of the year, and I want to continue on this path. I often think about the Roland Garros final, and I still don't know how I managed it. That match showed me that you have to keep believing in yourself until the end, never getting discouraged, no matter what happens. At Wimbledon, I gave my best, but Jannik's level was extraordinary."

Alcaraz also spoke about the importance of the mindset he has cultivated, giving a key role to the sports psychologist he has been working with for several years. "Sometimes, negative thoughts are inevitable, but my psychologist helps me a lot to manage them. I've been working with her for five years, and I've noticed a huge difference. Since she started giving me advice on how to deal with stress during matches, my mindset has notably improved," he argued.

"In tennis, everything is based on mentality. When I'm on court, I try not to think about anything else than playing a sport that I enjoy. It was always my dream to be a tennis player. I think that makes it easier to deal with pressure; I simply focus on the game. There was a time when criticism affected me quite a bit, but now I've learned not to give too much importance to that. I've learned that you learn from defeats, that every step counts. The important thing is to be consistent and strive to improve," a very firm Carlos Alcaraz analyzed.