Carlos Alcaraz’s rivalry with Jannik Sinner has been an extraordinary watch across the 2025 ATP season.
The two stars have met in six finals this year and delivered one of the greatest matches the sport has seen in recent memory in the championship match at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz and Sinner contested three of the four Grand Slam finals, and clashed for one last time in the ATP Finals title bout, which ultimately went the way of the Italian.
A lot has been made of their connection off the court by fans and the media this year, with both players stating they have a good relationship with each other.
However, former American player, Jack Sock, thinks there is a narrative surrounding the two that is being ‘pushed way harder than reality’.
Jack Sock discusses Carlos Alcaraz’s relationship with Jannik Sinner
When asked on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast if Alcaraz and Sinner’s ‘good relationship’ is just for show, Sock said: “I think Carlos would be more open to it, based on personality. I think Jannik seems very closed off to his bubble and to his people.
“I think tennis fans in general obviously loved the Roger [Federer] Rafa [Nadal] narrative and everything, and they are good friends, and I think because they’re retired now and not around, people want that so much that they’re pushing this.
Do you think Novak Djokovic will play at the 2028 LA Olympics?
“Every tournament, I feel like every week now, you go on X and it’s like, ‘oh, Carlos and Jannik, look at this interaction they had as they’re passing by on the practice court’.
“Just because you dap somebody up and smile doesn’t mean you guys are like really close friends.
“Maybe it turns into that over the years with the rivalry and everything, but I think at the current moment, I think it’s being pushed way harder than reality. I agree that they’re friends, but the narrative that they’re really close is being pushed.”
Steve Johnson says he wishes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz didn’t like each other
Sock’s compatriot, Steve Johnson, said: “I think in ten years these guys will be really close, but now they’re fighting each other for their spot in the sport’s legacy and history. I think the same happened with Roger and Rafa.
“Once they become older and they can look back with some practicality on what they did in their careers against one another, then they will become really close, but for now, I mean, I think they’re friends.
“I don’t think they dislike one another, which, I wish they did because that would make for some great drama out there.
“But in 10-15 years, when they look back and they each have 20 Slams, then yeah, they’ll look back and have great friendships like Roger and Rafa do now.
“I don’t think Roger and Rafa in 2009, 10, 12 were that close. I think Roger was probably kind of annoyed that Rafa kept winning the French Open.”
With no emergence of a competitive third star on the horizon, Sinner and Alcaraz will continue to fight for the biggest titles in 2026.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
