“I didn’t miss him” – Carlos Alcaraz makes his feelings known about Jannik Sinner’s absence in amusing admission after Rotterdam win

Carlos Alcaraz made a lighthearted admission about not facing Jannik Sinner after claiming the 2025 ABN AMRO Open title in Rotterdam. The Spaniard joked that he didn’t exactly miss his archrival, especially now that he has joined him on the list of champions.

Alcaraz secured his first indoor hardcourt title on Sunday, February 9, defeating repeat finalist Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Last year, de Minaur fell to Jannik Sinner in the final, but with Sinner withdrawing from this year’s event following his successful Australian Open title defense, Alcaraz took over as the top seed.

Speaking to the media after his victory, the Spaniard humorously admitted that he wasn’t too disappointed about avoiding Sinner’s challenge in Rotterdam.

“Not really (I didn’t miss Jannik),” he said with a laugh.

That said, Alcaraz acknowledged that a showdown with the World No. 1 would have made for an exciting final and given him a valuable benchmark for his own game.

“You’re right (it could’ve been a fantastic final). Probably we could have played a great final, who knows. I always want to play against the best in the world just to see where my level is,” he admitted.

Still, as he held the trophy, the Spaniard cheekily reiterated that he wasn’t too upset about Sinner’s absence.

“But right now that I’m holding the trophy – I’m going to say that I didn’t miss him in the tournament.”

Carlos Alcaraz on Jannik Sinner’s Rotterdam Withdrawal: “I Understand Him”

Jannik Sinner announced his decision to withdraw from Rotterdam just days before the tournament draw, citing the need to rest after his demanding Australian Open campaign. After securing his own title in the Dutch city, Carlos Alcaraz expressed his understanding of his rival’s decision.

“Obviously, he decided to pull out of the tournament last minute. His reason – I understand him, for sure,” Alcaraz said.

While he recognized that Sinner’s presence would have made for an even stronger field, Alcaraz was fully focused on his own path to the title.

“I think for the tournament it could’ve been great, you know, having him and me in the same tournament.”

Though they didn’t cross paths in Rotterdam, the rivalry is far from over. Both Alcaraz and Sinner are set to compete at the ATP 500 event in Doha from February 17-22, where they could finally meet. Also in the mix are Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur, promising yet another thrilling battle on the road to the season’s biggest titles.