Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors has issued a stark warning to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner regarding his recent string of losses to Carlos Alcaraz, urging the Italian to adapt his game to halt the Spaniard’s dominance in their rivalry. Speaking on his *Advantage Connors* podcast on June 24, 2025, Connors addressed Sinner’s 8-4 head-to-head deficit against Alcaraz, highlighted by a heartbreaking five-set loss in the 2025 French Open final (4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2)), where Sinner squandered three championship points. “Jannik’s got to figure out how to turn this around,” Connors said, per *Sportskeeda*. “Carlos has his number right now, and it’s not just physical—it’s mental. Sinner needs to adjust, or he’ll keep getting burned.”
Connors, reflecting on Alcaraz’s fifth consecutive win over Sinner in Paris, emphasized the need for tactical changes, drawing parallels to how Roger Federer adapted against Rafael Nadal. “Federer changed his racquet, got more aggressive to beat Rafa. Sinner’s got to find that edge—maybe it’s varying pace or disrupting Carlos’ rhythm,” he noted, referencing ATP Tour insights. Sinner, who has lost five of his eight matches in 2025 to Alcaraz, admitted post-Roland Garros, “It hurts,” per *The Athletic*, revealing the mental toll of the defeat, which lingered into his second-round Halle Open loss to Alexander Bublik (7-6(5), 6-4).
Sinner, with a 47-8 record in 2025 and titles at the Australian Open and US Open 2024, remains a Wimbledon favorite, but his 1-3 grass-court record against Alcaraz, including a 2022 Wimbledon loss, raises concerns. Connors warned, “Carlos thrives in big moments—look at those match points he saved. Jannik’s got to match that intensity or he’ll stay second best.” Alcaraz, undefeated in five Grand Slam finals, showcased his clutch play in their five-hour, 29-minute French Open epic, the longest in Roland Garros history, per *ATP Tour*.
As Sinner prepares for Wimbledon, where he and Alcaraz are seeded to meet only in the final, fans on X echo Connors’ concerns, with one stating, “Sinner’s too predictable against Carlos—needs to mix it up.” Connors also praised Alcaraz’s mental growth, predicting a confident body language shift at SW19, where he’s the two-time defending champion. Sinner, stung by his Paris defeat, must evolve to challenge Alcaraz’s supremacy in their budding rivalry, which has seen them split the last six majors.
