"Everyone was obsessed with Carlos Alcaraz, I replied: Give Jannik Sinner time" - Italian Tennis Federation president shares interesting anecdote
Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi recently shared an interesting anecdote, one that involves Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. According to Binaghi, when the world was doting over Alcaraz, he knew in the back of his mind that the Italian would rise up one day to rival him.
Alcaraz and Sinner dominated men's tennis in 2024, sweeping the four Grand Slams. While Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon titles, Sinner took the Australian Open and US Open titles. The Italian finished World No. 1, while Alcaraz ended 2024 as the World No.3, with Alexander Zverev sandwiched between the two.
Speaking in an interview with La Nuova Sardegna, Binaghi disclosed that when Alcaraz burst onto the scene in 2022 with his maiden Grand Slam triumph (US Open), many in Italy were wondering when their own country would produce such a champion.
However, even then, he told them all that it would only be a matter of time before the world came to know of one Jannik Sinner, a prediction that turned out to be very true.
"It was the time when Alcaraz had exploded and everyone was obsessed with the Spaniard. Spectacular, solid, very fast, with grit. But to those who said: 'I wish we had one like that in Italy', I replied: 'forever, Sinner'. Give him time and we'll talk," he said.
Currently in the off-season, Sinner and Alcaraz will start the 2025 season at the Australian Open. While the former is the defending champion at the tournament, the latter reached the quarterfinals last year and will be hoping to go even further next season.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner head-to-head
The head-to-head record between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is currently 6-4 in favor of the Spaniard. Alcaraz has won their last three meetings on the trot, all of which came in 2024.
Their first ever meeting came at the 2021 Paris Masters, which Alcaraz won. On the other hand, their most recent encounter was at the China Open, where the Spaniard prevailed in a three-set thriller.
Alcaraz has often spoken highly of his relationship with the World No. 1, saying that they had a mutual respect for reach other even if they were not close friends.
"Once we are on tour, travelling, at tournaments, on site, we are with our teams and on our own, so we don't speak too much," he said (via Sky Sports). "I think the respect we have puts us in a position that we have a really good relationship."