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Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Advises Jannik Sinner to Learn ‘This’ From Carlos Alcaraz After French Open Defeat

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 9:32 AM ET

Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs wants Jannik Sinner to add more variety to his shots. In the recently concluded French Open, Sinner reached the final of the tournament for the first time but wasn’t successful in beating Carlos Alcaraz, who came from two sets down to defend his crown.

The match lasted for five hours and 29 minutes, the longest French Open final in the history of tennis. Sinner, who was chasing his third consecutive Major title was defeated in a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career. The Italian now trails 4-8 in his head-to-head matchups with Alcaraz.

It was his fourth consecutive defeat to the Spaniard. Since 2024, Sinner has been beaten only eight times, five of these came in his matches against the now five-time Grand Slam champion. Stubbs, on her The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, stated that Sinner should improve his drop shots on clay to beat his arch-rival on the surface.

I think that is what Carlos did really well on some big occasions. He threw in that exceptional forehand drop shot at times where I was like are you kidding me? Jannik does not hit it as much. Maybe that is something he can implement on clay if he wants to beat Carlos.

Sinner was chasing his second title on clay following his victory at the 2022 Umag Open (beat Alcaraz). The Roland Garros title was Alcaraz’s 11th title on the red dirt and his third this year after his victory in Monte Carlo and Rome. Apart from these events, Alcaraz also reached the Barcelona Open final (lost to Holger Rune) and captured his career’s first indoor hard-court title in Rotterdam in February.

Andy Murray shares if he thinks Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz would’ve been favorites against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal, as the tennis world knows, is the King of Clay, having won a record 14 French Open titles. The tennis great, who retired last year at the Davis Cup after Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands, has clinched 92 singles titles in his career, 63 of them which he lifted on clay.

Just before the French Open final, John McEnroe claimed that Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner would have been favorites to win if they faced Nadal at his best at Roland Garros. Sam Querrey thinks if Nadal and Alcaraz locked horns with each other 10 times in the clay-court Major, the young Spaniard would win four times.

Now Andy Murray gave his take on whether the two young rivals would have been favorites to defeat Nadal in his prime. He told BBC Sport:

I saw some pundits saying if [Alcaraz and Sinner] went on court against Rafa at the French Open, they would be favorites going into that match with Rafa in his prime. Alcaraz and Sinner are on the path to being two of the best, no doubt about that, but it takes time to build what Roger [Federer], Rafa, and Novak [Novak] had.

Murray was on Court Philippe-Chatrier along with Djokovic and Federer during Nadal’s emotional tribute ceremony on Day 1 of Roland Garros. The Scot became the second member of the Big 4 to call time on his career (at the 2024 Paris Olympics) following Federer, who hung up his racket at the 2022 Laver Cup.

Djokovic is chasing his historic 25th Major and has been making huge strides toward it at this French Open. His campaign was ended by Sinner in the semifinals. The Serb’s next target is Wimbledon, where he last won the title in 2022 and was defeated by Alcaraz in the finals in the previous two seasons.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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