Paolo Bertolucci, a retired Italian tennis legend and 1977 Davis Cup champion, issued a stern warning to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner about his rival Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the 2025 Cincinnati Open (August 7-18). Speaking to Italian media, as reported by Tennis World USA on August 7, 2025, Bertolucci cautioned, “Now in Cincinnati, Jannik will need to immediately deliver a high-level performance to consolidate the points he’s gained or make up for those he’ll lose. He’ll have to watch his back from the Spaniard, now his only real rival for the world number one spot.” The 74-year-old emphasized that Alcaraz, ranked No. 2, has a significant advantage due to fewer ranking points to defend (1,080) compared to Sinner’s 5,110 across Cincinnati and the US Open, where Sinner defends titles from 2024.
Bertolucci highlighted the duo’s contrasting 2025 seasons. Sinner, with four Grand Slam titles, including the 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon, leads Alcaraz by 3,430 points but faces pressure to maintain his ranking after a three-month doping ban (February-May 2025) and a French Open final loss to Alcaraz (2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3). Alcaraz, with a 2025 Italian Open win over Sinner (7-6(5), 6-1) and a French Open title, has been less consistent on hard courts, suffering a shock US Open second-round exit in 2024. Bertolucci noted, “Unless something drastic happens, there is no way Alcaraz will repeat such a catastrophic North American hard-court swing,” suggesting the Spaniard could close the rankings gap.
The rivalry, with Alcaraz leading 8-5 head-to-head, has defined tennis, with the pair splitting the last seven Grand Slams. Sinner’s Wimbledon win ended Alcaraz’s five-match streak against him, but Alcaraz’s fewer points to defend make him a threat, per Bertolucci. Social media, like @Welovetennis’s post, echoed the warning, urging Sinner to be wary. As both players, who skipped Toronto, prepare for Cincinnati—Sinner facing Vit Kopřiva or a qualifier, Alcaraz against Mattia Bellucci or Damir Džumhur—Bertolucci’s caution underscores the high stakes in their battle for the top spot.
