Sinner: I wake up in the morning trying to understand how to beat Alcaraz

Many tennis players dream of reaching the top of the PIF ATP Rankings, envisioning ‘World No. 1’ next to their name. They wake up and train countless hours, chasing the opportunity to become the best in the sport. For Jannik Sinner, that dream has become a reality this season, but the Italian believes there’s still room for growth.

The 23-year-old has been the most dominant player in 2024, having won six tour-level titles and 59 matches. But Sinner has a barometer for further improvement. He has lost three consecutive matches against Carlos Alcaraz, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 6-4.

The top seed at this week’s Rolex Shanghai Masters, Sinner is finding motivation from his rivalry with the Spaniard.

“I feel like — at least talking from my side — he pushes me to do better. I wake up in the morning trying to understand what I can do better trying to beat him next time, which is something nice for me as a player,” Sinner told ATP Media. “It’s nice that we are rivals on the court and then friends off the court.”

Sinner’s rivalry with Alcaraz has rapidly blossomed into one of the most gripping matchups in recent memory. Anytime they meet, it is almost a guarantee for exciting shotmaking and a display of world-class court coverage. Such was the case in Wednesday’s China Open final, which Alcaraz narrowly won in a third-set tie-break. The back-and-forth contest thrilled Beijing fans for three hours and 21 minutes.

Could a rematch happen in Shanghai? Sinner and Alcaraz are seeded to meet in the semi-finals. Even in the midst of a fierce on-court rivalry, the two remain close friends.

“I feel like off the court we are quite similar because we are surround ourself with our close ones, we like to stay with the team. There are many, many similar things. On the court, we are different,” Sinner said. “He is the one who brings the firepower, the hot shots, he involves the crowd. He’s a bit different. I am more like the solid player, quite calm, so it’s like fire and ice a bit. But it’s a nice combination.

“It also shows that everyone is different. I believe that I have to take something from him as a player, trying some different shots sometimes, which I feel like makes me grow as a player.”

Making his second appearance in Shanghai, Sinner will look to improve upon his fourth-round run last year. A lot has changed for the 16-time tour-level titlist in the past 12 months. Not only has he become World No. 1, Sinner has also claimed two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami, Cincinnati) and as many major trophies (Australian Open, US Open).

“The confidence level is in a different moment now. I feel like when I go on court, I feel more safe on the court,” Sinner said. “Playing on a centre court now, let’s say, it’s normal. Before, it was still something new and this, ‘Wow’ effect when you go out. Now, it’s still amazing, but I enjoy it more. It’s a place where I feel very, very safe.”

Sinner is aiming to become the first player to win three ATP Masters 1000 titles in one season since Rafael Nadal in 2018. Should he lift his fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic (2015) as the only player to win Shanghai while holding World No. 1 honours.

“I am at a good level now, but we will always try and aim for something more,” said Sinner, who faces Taro Daniel in the opening round.

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