Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about his relationship with Jannik Sinner, shedding light on their dynamic amid their fierce tennis rivalry. Following his Wimbledon 2025 final loss to Sinner on July 13, Alcaraz told La Gazzetta dello Sport that despite their on-court battles, they share a respectful and friendly off-court connection. He explained, “Tennis is a special sport that allows us to be great rivals on court while respecting each other. Jannik and I are good friends—we can talk about many things off court.” This comes after earlier comments where he suggested they couldn’t be “close friends,” citing their competitive focus and lack of regular contact, especially during Sinner’s three-month doping suspension earlier in 2025, when Alcaraz admitted, “I didn’t call him… I was playing, in my feelings.”
Alcaraz emphasized mutual admiration, noting Sinner’s character and their shared drive to improve, saying, “I have great respect for him; he’s a great person. I’m sure we’ll always be able to maintain this relationship.” This contrasts with past perceptions of tension, particularly after his remarks following their Beijing final, where he highlighted their limited personal interaction. Their rivalry, marked by Alcaraz leading 8-5 head-to-head and splitting their two 2025 Grand Slam finals, has evolved into a professional respect, with occasional off-court chats about life, though not a deep friendship. As both prepare for the US Open, where Alcaraz has issued a bold challenge to dethrone Sinner, this balance of rivalry and camaraderie continues to define their relationship.
