Sinner beats Alcaraz to retain ATP Finals title
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Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has compared the leading names in men’s tennis – Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – and described how they differ.
Nadal played against Sinner and Alcaraz when they broke into the sport, just as he was starting to wind down his involvement in professional tennis.
Injuries and age combined to force the 39-year-old’s retirement in November 2024. In his career, he won a record 14 French Opens, with eight other Grand Slam crowns, 36 Masters 1000 titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Sinner, 24, has four Grand Slams to his name, while 22-year-old Alcaraz has six, suggesting one or both of them might ultimately be in contention to challenge Nadal’s CV, as well as Novak Djokovic’s record of 24 Grand Slam wins, the most in men’s tennis.
Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Nadal said that while Alcaraz is harder to predict, Sinner is more focused, but it does not seem to hold the younger Spaniard back.
He explained: “They’re different players than I used to be. I think Carlos is more unpredictable: he makes more mistakes, plays more spectacular points, and sometimes doesn’t have such a defined playing style, which makes him unpredictable and fun for the spectator.
‘Good friends off-court’ – Sinner balances Alcaraz rivalry with friendship after ATP Finals win
Video credit: SNTV
“Jannik is a more methodical, focused player, with a more defined playing style, and he adds things little by little, which is why he’s so solid and loses so few matches. Sometimes it seems like Carlos is more scattered, but when you look at the results… he’s had an incredibly consistent and solid year in all the major tournaments.
“That’s why it makes me laugh when I hear that he’s scattered: the results say otherwise. That’s my point of view.”
The veteran also ruled out any chance of a return to the sport on the court. He said that he was not tempted to get back into competition despite playing against some younger professionals, and the suggestions of his colleagues.
“I’ve never been one to think, ‘If only I could…’ I was telling Marc Lopez that when I was retired, and we were training, he thought that if I came back, maybe I could do something,” Nadal said. “And I told him, ‘That chapter is closed, mate.’
“Now my body can only do so much, and I think my mind can too. There comes a point, when you’ve stopped the routine, that you can’t get back into it. It’s very difficult.
“I’ve trained a couple of times with girls from the [Rafa Nadal] Academy, with Alina [Korneeva] and with Alex [Eala], just as sparring partners, honestly, with no other intention than to have a good time playing the ball, supporting them, and for them to enjoy themselves.
“That’s how it was, and that’s how I see it: without any interest or expectation of anything.”
Being a coach ‘doesn’t fit with my life’There has been speculation that Nadal could feature in Alcaraz’s coaching set-up in the near future after the Spaniard’s split with Juan Carlos Ferrero, but he said that the demands on his time would be too great.
He conceded that he would, however, entertain the chance to lead a Davis Cup team as captain.
He said; “I’ve always had the utmost respect for what might happen in the future, because what you feel today isn’t necessarily what you’ll feel later.
“Life is constantly changing, especially when you have young children: you see life one way, a few years go by, and it changes.
“Travelling constantly? I don’t see it happening. Being a coach would require that, and right now it doesn’t fit with my life.
“Being a Davis Cup captain someday? Why not? I might enjoy it… or not. I just retired; it’s too early to think about it. I respect life’s processes and the need to adapt. Right now, it’s not appropriate to think about that.”
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