New Delhi: Though often pitted against Jannik Sinner as the leading player of the emerging generation of tennis players, Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged that he is behind the Italian in the pecking order currently.
Sinner is the World No.1 and has won back-to-back Australian Open titles, pushing his Grand Slam win count to three, compared to Alcaraz who has claimed four major titles.
The Spaniard aimed to win the Australian Open to complete the career Slam but was beaten by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novaj Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in the final to defend his title at the Melbourne Park and strengthening his position at the top of the ATP rankings, above second-placed Zverev and Alcaraz.
Alcaraz is now preparing to play in Rotterdam as the top seed, for the first time after losing in four sets to Djokovic and said the current form of Sinner is “crazy”.
“Jannik is the best right now. He has lost only four or five matches in the past year, so it is crazy. I know people say who’s better out of us. They say Jannik is better or some say me. It is all discussion,” Alcaraz said, as quoted by AFP.
“But for me, I think for a tennis player, we have to face Jannik. He is winning everything he is playing. He is focused every time, so I think he is the best. Every tournament he plays, he makes the final or lifts the trophy.”
‘Not a missed opportunity’
Alcaraz believes he hasn’t missed a good chance to complete his career Grand Slam in Melbourne as gets ready to face Dutch wild-card entrant Botic van de Zandschulp on his Rotterdam debut.
“I don’t feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak. I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to, but Novak played an unbelievable match,” the 21-year-old said.
“Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing. It was a pretty good match. I have tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now.”
Jannik Sinner is the World No.1 and has won back-to-back Australian Open titles, pushing his Grand Slam win count to three, compared to Carlos Alcaraz who has claimed four major titles. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
