Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played one another to build on their burgeoning rivalry at the top of men’s sport in a thrilling 2024 French Open semi-final. Sinner will go to No. 1 in the rankings after his semi-final defeat, one that he says left him both happy to have got to that stage of the Grand Slam, but disappointed to have missed out on a chance of winning the tournament.
Jannik Sinner told the press that he was “very happy” with his performance at the French Open, despite being “disappointed” to lose to Carlos Alcaraz.
The 22-year-old Italian was two sets to one ahead on Friday, before ultimately losing over the course of a five-set, four-hour epic.
Sinner has done enough at Roland-Garros to move to No. 1 in the rankings to depose Novak Djokovic, and the semi-final exit represents his best achievement in the French Open so far.
Speaking after the match, he reflected on his feelings: “I think it was a great match. For sure the sets he won he played better in the important points. I think that was the key. Obviously disappointed how it ended, but it’s part of my growing and the process.
“Thinking back before the tournament reaching this point, I’m obviously very happy.
“In the other way, I’m disappointed about the match today. Now I’m just to keep looking forward to improve, to try to do my best I can and then we see what I can do in the future here in this tournament. If we watch the positive side, I have improved from last year.”
Sinner is already enjoying the rivalry, with the duo currently looking capable of supplanting the old Big Four as the new generation come through and older players continue to step away.
He said: “If we watch the results, we always or most likely play against [each other] in the semis or final or quarters, [in] very important matches. I think that’s exciting for the game, especially when head-to-head is quite close.
“And the winner is happy and then the loser tries to find a way to beat him the next time. I think that’s exciting. That’s what I will try to do.
“I think we study each other very well. You can see a little bit of tension sometimes of both players and both sides just because we know each other slowly a little bit better. Each time when we play against [each other] we expect a couple of things and then to mix up the plan, you make different choices sometimes on the court. I think next time obviously is going to be different.”
Sinner is due next at the Halle grass event which starts on Monday, June 15 as part of player’s preparation for Wimbledon.
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You can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
