Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been pictured training together ahead of the ATP Finals, as they prepare to make one last push before the season concludes.
And whilst there is always glory on the line when entering a tournament of this magnitude, for this duo, there is added incentive for success.
After all, the year-end world number one spot remains very much up for grabs, albeit far more in favour of the Spaniard.
Despite this rivalry, and what promises to be an intense battle for this title, the two did not let that stop them from testing one another before it begins.
Carlos Alcaraz explains why he trained with Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals
Speaking about his decision to practice with his generational rival, the six-time Grand Slam champion admitted: “I think the practice session in every tournament we set up like two or three weeks before. I was in Paris just thinking a little bit about the practices here, and why not? That’s the question. Why not?”
It seems that, despite this rivalry, there is also a mutual respect and desire to improve. If it means playing with one another outside of competitive matches, then so be it.
Carlos Alcaraz continued: “I practice with every player. I am practising with Jannik. It’s really good to be in a good shape.
“The information that I got from this practice? Nothing at all. We have played each other many times and know each other very well.
“We know what we should do in the matches, so it’s just about getting rhythm and feeling good, the movement and hitting the ball. Just getting used to the conditions once again, and that’s it.
“I think that is what I am taking in the practice, but it was a privilege to practice with Jannik once again.”
The draw for the groups at the ATP Finals was made earlier this week, with Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner unsurprisingly split as they are touted to once again meet in the final.
What does Carlos Alcaraz have to do to finish the year ranked number one?
As touched upon earlier, the year-end number one spot remains very much in Alcaraz’s hands.
However, his underperformance at the Paris Masters did afford Sinner the sliver of hope needed to make it so any conclusions would have to be made at the ATP Finals.
When the points from last season reset, the 22-year-old will return to number one when the tournament begins.
Alcaraz currently leads Sinner by 1,050 ranking points, and given the maximum any player can gain from this event is 1,500, the former needs only 451 additional points to secure the year-end number one spot. That equates to just three wins at the tournament.
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