Carlos Alcaraz Hails Jannik Sinner’s Form Ahead of Rotterdam Return

Eppe Franklyne –

• Carlos Alcaraz praised Jannik Sinner’s dominant form, calling his recent results “crazy” ahead of his own return to action in Rotterdam.
• Alcaraz acknowledged Sinner’s impressive consistency, noting he has only lost a handful of matches in the past year.
• Reflecting on his own Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz stated he did not view it as a missed opportunity.
• Alcaraz’s first match in Rotterdam will be against Botic van de Zandschulp, who defeated him at the US Open last year.
• Despite illness affecting his preparation, Alcaraz is eager to return to competition and enjoy the challenge of playing in front of a hostile crowd.

Carlos Alcaraz, in his first press conference since his Australian Open exit, praised Jannik Sinner’s remarkable form, referring to it as “crazy.” The Spaniard, preparing for his ATP debut in Rotterdam where he is the top seed, acknowledged the dominance of Sinner, who won the Australian Open without dropping a set in his last three matches. “Jannik is the best right now,” Alcaraz said, emphasizing the Italian’s consistency and impressive record, with only four or five losses in the past year.

While discussing comparisons between himself and Sinner, Alcaraz admitted that the debate over who is better is ongoing but reaffirmed his respect for Sinner’s consistency and focus. “He’s winning everything he’s playing. He makes the final or lifts the trophy,” Alcaraz stated.

Reflecting on his own loss to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals, Alcaraz explained that while he had hoped to win, he didn’t consider it a missed opportunity, recognizing Djokovic’s exceptional performance. “Facing Novak in the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing,” Alcaraz remarked, adding that he took positives from the match and is now focused on future challenges.

Alcaraz, whose preparations for Rotterdam were hindered by a cold, will face Dutch wild-card entry Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match. Alcaraz recalled their US Open encounter, where van de Zandschulp won in straight sets, describing him as “a really tough player.” Despite the likelihood of a hostile crowd, Alcaraz is eager to embrace the challenge and return to competitive play.