Jannik Sinner has empathized with Carlos Alcaraz after his shock exit from the Miami Open.
Alcaraz was beaten by Sebastian Korda in the third round of the tournament in Miami, where Sinner remains.
The Italian second seed is now into the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, where he will take on American Frances Tiafoe.
Sinner is currently chasing the Sunshine Double at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, having clinched the Indian Wells title earlier this month.
Before his next match, however, he has been tasked with sharing his reaction to his fierce rival’s exit at the hands of Korda.
Who are you backing to complete the sunshine double?
Or do you think both Sabalenka and Sinner will win the Miami Open?
Jannik Sinner reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s Miami Open exit
Sinner told Tennis Channel after beating Alex Michelsen in the round of 16: “Him being number one and me being number two, the only way we face each other is potentially in the final.
“There is a long way to go. There are tough matches to go. I am someone who likes to watch tennis. I watch Carlos too.
“But at the same time every match is different and they are tough matches and tough competitors, who are against me.
“To lose is in one second, but to win, you don’t win the tournament in the first rounds, but you can always lose early.
“In my mind I know I can go far but I also know that I can lose, so I always go day by day and one opponent at a time.”
Who is the better hard court player – Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner?
Before knocking out American Michelsen, Sinner battled past Damir Dzumhur and Corentin Moutet, winning all three matches in straight sets.
He’s now heading for his sixth career meeting with Tiafoe, with Sinner entering that match with a 4-1 head-to-head record.
Jannik Sinner ‘relaxed’ about ATP number one ranking
Sinner also discussed the ATP rankings ahead of his next outing, with the Italian currently behind only world number one Alcaraz.
The pair are comfortably ahead of the rest of the top 10, with Sinner saying of the number one ranking: “I know the scenarios, but at the same time clay is completely different.
“It depends how you start and how you feel on the surface. But it is the same there. Everything that is coming is positive.
“Even if I should lose a little bit earlier, the points are always going to come in. I don’t have anything to defend.
“But I play to be the best possible version of myself. The ranking is just a consequence of how I am going to play and that’s it.
“I have my relaxed point of view and then we will see how it goes.”
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | 13,550 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | 11,400 |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | 5,370 |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | 4,905 |
| 5 | Lorenzo Musetti | 4,365 |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | 4,185 |
| 7 | Taylor Fritz | 4,170 |
| 8 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 4,000 |
| 9 | Ben Shelton | 3,860 |
| 10 | Daniil Medvedev | 3,610 |
The upcoming clay season could be historic for Sinner, who can complete the career Grand Slam by winning the French Open.
His rival Alcaraz completed that feat at this year’s Australian Open, where he became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 22.
On the WTA Tour, Iga Swiatek is also just one title shy of the feat, with the Pole needing to secure the Australian Open.
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