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Carlos Alcaraz Opens Up on the “Bitter Feeling” of Facing Jannik Sinner After Six Kings Slam Heartbreak
Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish tennis maestro and reigning world No. 1, has candidly admitted to harboring a “bitter feeling” when competing against his fiercest rival, Jannik Sinner, following his straight-sets defeat in the final of the 2025 Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh on October 18. The Italian, who dismantled Alcaraz 6-2, 6-4 in just 73 minutes to retain his title and scoop an additional $4.5 million on top of the $1.5 million participation fee, left the Spaniard reflecting on the psychological edge Sinner now holds. “It’s bitter because he’s playing at such a high level right now—his serve feels like a wall, and it’s weird not having a single break point,” Alcaraz confessed in a post-match interview streamed live on Netflix, his usual infectious smile tinged with frustration. This emotional admission, coming after a year of intense rivalry, underscores the toll of their head-to-head battles, where Alcaraz leads 10-5 overall but Sinner has won three of the last four, including the US Open final.
The Six Kings Slam Final: Sinner’s Dominant Response to US Open Agony
The Riyadh showdown was billed as the “most expensive final in tennis history,” pitting Alcaraz against Sinner in a no-holds-barred exhibition featuring a $6 million total prize pool. Sinner, the 24-year-old Italian and 2025 French Open runner-up, arrived hungry for revenge after Alcaraz’s four-set US Open final triumph in September, where the Spaniard edged him 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-3 to claim his third major of the year. True to form, Sinner started like a storm, breaking Alcaraz in the opening game and holding to love for a swift 2-0 lead. The Spaniard grabbed a game back but couldn’t stem the tide, as Sinner’s revamped serve—80% points won—yielded zero break opportunities for Alcaraz.
By the fifth game, Sinner had broken again, surging to 4-1 and wrapping the first set 6-2 in 27 minutes. Alcaraz regrouped in the second, holding comfortably for a 2-1 lead, but Sinner’s baseline depth and 10 aces forced another break at 3-2, and the Italian sealed the 6-4 win with a love hold. “Jannik was unstoppable today—his serve felt extra heavy, and it put me under pressure every time,” Alcaraz said, admitting the “weird” sensation of no break points was “bitter” after his recent dominance. Sinner, gracious in victory, credited his US Open loss as motivation: “Carlos pushes me to be better—last month’s final taught me to be less predictable. This feels good.”
The exhibition, streamed exclusively on Netflix, drew 2.5 million live viewers, with the final’s $6 million payday (winner takes $4.5 million additional) highlighting tennis’s growing Saudi ties. All six participants—Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev, Fritz, and Tsitsipas—earned $1.5 million for showing up, but Sinner’s retention of the crown adds a $4.5 million bonus, bringing his 2025 earnings to over $20 million including endorsements.
Alcaraz’s “Bitter Feeling”: A Rivalry’s Psychological Edge
Alcaraz’s candid reflection highlights the emotional intensity of his rivalry with Sinner, who has won three of their last four encounters, including the Beijing final in September and now Riyadh. “It’s bitter because he’s improved so much—his serve is like a wall now, and it feels weird not having chances,” Alcaraz said, referencing Sinner’s post-US Open tweaks to his motion, which boosted his first-serve win percentage to 86% in Riyadh. The Spaniard, who leads the head-to-head 10-5 overall but trails 1-3 in finals, admitted the losses sting more from a friend: “Jannik’s a great guy, but on court, he’s a killer. It pushes me, but yeah, it leaves a bitter taste.”
This echoes Alcaraz’s earlier “hate relationship” with the pressure of facing Sinner, whom he called “the most complete player” after their French Open final in June, where Alcaraz edged him 6-4, 6-7(6-8), 6-7(3-7), 6-2, 6-3. Sinner, now with 62 wins and two Slams this year (Australian Open, Wimbledon), leads the year-to-date rankings but trails Alcaraz by 2,540 points for year-end No. 1. “Carlos makes me better—bitter for him today, but that’s rivalry,” Sinner said post-match, smiling.
Alcaraz’s 2025: Dominance Tempered by Rivalry
Alcaraz’s season has been historic—67 wins (67-7 record), eight titles (Wimbledon, US Open, Japan Open), and a locked year-end No. 1—but Sinner’s resurgence has made it a two-man race. The Riyadh loss, Alcaraz’s first to Sinner since the US Open, costs no rankings but stings psychologically. “It’s bitter, but it motivates me—Vienna and Paris next,” Alcaraz said, locked for the ATP Finals in Turin (November 10-17), where he’ll face a group with Sinner, Medvedev, and Rublev. His £160 million Nike deal and “CA” logo debut in Turin add to the narrative of a champion evolving under pressure.
| Match | Result | Key Stats | Head-to-Head Update |
|——-|——–|———–|———————|
| Six Kings Slam Final | Loss to Sinner (6-2, 6-4) | 0 break points; 10 aces conceded | Alcaraz leads 10-6 |
| US Open Final | Win vs. Sinner (6-2, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3) | 3 sets won; 45 winners | Prior to Riyadh |
| French Open Final | Win vs. Sinner (6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3) | 5 sets; 1 hour 40 min | Prior to Riyadh |
Reactions: “Bitter but Beautiful Rivalry”
Social media lit up under #AlcarazSinner: “Carlos’ ‘bitter’ honesty? Rivalry gold—Sinner’s serve is a beast now!” (200k likes). Novak Djokovic tweeted: “Great battle—Jannik’s on fire, Carlos will bounce back. Turin awaits.” Fans praised the candor: “Alcaraz admitting the ‘weird’ pressure? Real talk from a champ.”
Alcaraz’s “bitter feeling” isn’t defeat—it’s fuel for the fire. With Vienna (October 20-26) next, the Spaniard’s unbreakable; Sinner’s just the spark. Tennis’s duo? Unstoppable.
