Carlos Alcaraz Reacts to Jannik Sinner’s Absence After Winning Rotterdam Title
Carlos Alcaraz made a candid admission about not facing Jannik Sinner on his way to winning the 2025 ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. The Spaniard jokingly admitted that he didn’t miss his archrival, minutes after joining him on the tournament’s list of champions.
Alcaraz secured his maiden indoor hardcourt title at the ATP 500 event on February 9, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the final. The victory marked an impressive milestone in his career, while de Minaur, a repeat finalist, suffered his second consecutive loss in the Rotterdam final—having fallen to Jannik Sinner in last year’s championship match.
Alcaraz on Sinner’s Absence: “I Didn’t Miss Him”
Defending champion Jannik Sinner opted out of this year’s tournament following his successful Australian Open title defense, paving the way for Alcaraz to take the top seed. When asked about Sinner’s absence after his victory, Alcaraz playfully remarked:
“Not really (I didn’t miss Jannik),” he said with a laugh.
While acknowledging that a potential final against Sinner would have been exciting, Alcaraz admitted he was content with how things played out.
“You’re right—it could’ve been a fantastic final. Probably we could have played a great final, who knows? You never know who is going to reach the final in tournaments, but I always want to play against the best tennis player in the world just to see where my level is,” Alcaraz stated.
However, he then doubled down on his earlier joke, emphasizing that he had no complaints about avoiding Sinner.
“But right now that I’m holding the trophy – I’m going to say that I didn’t miss him in the tournament.”
Alcaraz Supports Sinner’s Decision to Withdraw
Sinner withdrew from Rotterdam just days before the draw, citing the need for recovery after his Australian Open triumph. Alcaraz, now the tournament champion, backed his rival’s decision.
“Obviously, he decided to pull out of the tournament last minute. His reason—I understand him, for sure,” he told the media.
The Spaniard acknowledged that Sinner’s presence would have elevated the competition, but ultimately, he respected the Italian’s choice.
“I think for the tournament, it could’ve been great, you know, having him and me in the same tournament,” he added.
While Alcaraz and Sinner didn’t get their highly anticipated showdown in Rotterdam, the two are expected to face off at the ATP 500 event in Doha (February 17-22). Also competing in Qatar are Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur, setting up another thrilling battle on tour.
