Carlos Alcaraz gets real about Jannik Sinner factor behind his happiness at being No. 2 seed at French Open
Carlos Alcaraz, the defending French Open champion, expressed genuine excitement about securing the No. 2 seed for the 2025 Roland Garros, starting May 25, primarily because it ensures he won’t face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner until a potential final. Speaking after his 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final win over Jack Draper at the 2025 Italian Open, Alcaraz said, “I think it’s great being second seed in Roland Garros, knowing that I’m not going to see Jannik before the final, if I reach it. It’s something I didn’t think about, honestly. Before coming here, No. 1 wasn’t a goal. Knowing that, it’s a great thing,” as quoted by *Sportskeeda*. His candid remarks highlight the strategic advantage of avoiding Sinner, his fiercest rival, until the last hurdle in Paris.
Alcaraz’s joy stems from their intense rivalry, with the Spaniard leading their head-to-head 6-4, including a thrilling 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the 2024 French Open semi-final, a match he called one of his toughest, per *ESPN*. Sinner, returning from a three-month doping suspension, has been formidable in Rome, reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Jesper de Jong. Alcaraz, aware of Sinner’s 60-0 record against non-top-20 players since 2023, values the seeding buffer, especially given their three 2024 clashes—all won by Alcaraz (Indian Wells, French Open, Beijing).
The No. 2 seed, confirmed after Alcaraz overtook Alexander Zverev in the ATP rankings, follows a strong clay season, with titles in Monte-Carlo and Rotterdam, a Barcelona final, and an Italian Open semi-final against Lorenzo Musetti. Despite a mid-season adductor injury that forced a Madrid withdrawal, Alcaraz’s 24-5 record and 4-1 head-to-head edge over Musetti position him as a favorite to defend his 2024 title, per *ATP Tour*. Fans on X echoed his optimism, with one posting, “Carlos dodging Sinner till the final is huge for his chances.”
Sinner’s return adds intrigue, but Alcaraz’s focus on enjoying the grind—“finding joy in suffering,” as he said post-2024 Sinner win—underscores his mental growth. As he aims to be the first man since Rafael Nadal to defend Roland Garros, Alcaraz’s seeding relief reflects both respect for Sinner’s prowess and confidence in his own clay-court dominance.
