Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner just had their first meeting since this year’s Wimbledon final, and it’s pretty clear these two genuinely like each other despite being fierce rivals on court.
Neither player has competed since their epic Wimbledon showdown. They both pulled out of the Canadian Open in Toronto, along with Novak Djokovic, leaving organizers pretty disappointed.
The tournament tried something new this year – expanding to a 96-player draw over 12 days. But losing the world’s top two players was a huge blow.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 22 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
And make no mistake, Alcaraz and Sinner really are the best players in the world right now. They’ve basically taken over tennis since early 2024.
The numbers don’t lie: they’ve won the last seven Grand Slams between them. Sinner has four, Alcaraz has three.
They’ve also faced off in the last two major finals. Alcaraz won the French Open in a thriller, saving three championship points against Sinner.
But Sinner got his revenge at Wimbledon, beating the Spaniard in four sets to win his first title there. That comeback after such a devastating loss at Roland Garros? That’s championship mentality right there.
Practice court reunion in Cincinnati
Both players are now in Ohio, getting ready for the Cincinnati Open. Djokovic withdrew from this one too, but tennis fans will still get to see the world’s top two players in action.
Videos of Alcaraz and Sinner chatting on practice courts aren’t unusual – they’ve always been friendly. But their latest conversation really showed how comfortable they are with each other.
Alcaraz opened up about his post-Wimbledon break, telling Sinner he spent some quality time back home in Spain.
"I did nothing crazy. Yeah, at home. I spent two weeks at home, one week in the south of Spain. It was nice. Three weeks in the summer at home, I felt bored. It was different. There was at least one year when I didn’t see all my friends, all the people, doing whatever they want."
The 22-year-old clearly needed that downtime. When you’re constantly traveling and competing at the highest level, just hanging out with friends becomes a luxury.
The video then shows both players and their teams saying goodbye. No tension, no awkwardness – just genuine warmth and respect.
Will this friendship last?
Not every rivalry needs drama and bad blood, but Alcaraz and Sinner’s friendship is pretty unique in tennis. Even Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who are known for their mutual respect and are friends now, had some heated moments during their careers.
It might seem impossible right now, but things could change between these two. Sinner turns 24 this month, and Alcaraz is just 22. That’s a lot of years ahead for potential drama.
One controversial moment in a big match could shift everything.
Sinner’s recent doping case and three-month suspension caused huge controversy throughout tennis. The settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency divided opinions across the sport.
But even that wasn’t enough to damage his relationship with Alcaraz. The Spaniard has mostly stayed quiet about the whole situation, which probably says something about their friendship.
For now, tennis fans can enjoy watching two incredible players who actually seem to like each other. In a sport that’s often pretty individual and intense, it’s refreshing to see.
The Cincinnati Open will give us another chance to see them in action. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get another final between them.
