Carlos Alcaraz Sends Playful Message to Jannik Sinner After Rotterdam Open Victory
Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his first indoor title at the Rotterdam Open with a cheeky message for Jannik Sinner.
Sinner, last year’s champion, withdrew from the tournament at the last minute, leaving Alcaraz as the top seed. The Spaniard took full advantage, clinching the title with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Alex de Minaur in the final.
The world No. 1 had opted out of defending his title following his Australian Open triumph, citing the need for rest. When asked if he missed facing Sinner, Alcaraz grinned and quipped, “Not really.”
While acknowledging that Sinner’s absence was a loss for the tournament, the four-time Grand Slam champion couldn’t help but enjoy the moment. “He had his reasons for withdrawing, and I understand that. It would’ve been great to have him here,” Alcaraz admitted. “But I have the trophy in my hands, so I won’t say I missed him,” he added with a smile.
Beyond the title, the victory marked an important milestone for Alcaraz. Having previously struggled on indoor hard courts, he finally broke through and gained confidence on the surface.
However, the Spaniard revealed he had battled self-doubt during the tournament. “Sometimes I have doubts about what I need to do,” he said. “The feelings can change during a match. Today, for example, I felt great in the first and second sets, even though I lost the second. But at times, I felt uncomfortable playing aggressively, which made me a bit stiff. Still, I believe I made the right choices.”
With Rotterdam behind him, Alcaraz now turns his attention to the Qatar Open in Doha, an upgraded ATP 500 event. While he’ll return to outdoor hard courts, his Rotterdam triumph has given him renewed belief for the indoor season ahead.
“I knew I could play great indoor tennis—it was just a matter of time,” he said. “I don’t have much experience indoors, and a lot of players are better than me in these conditions. But this win proves I can compete at a high level.”
