If Jannik Sinner wants to win the Italian Open he has to go through his fiercest rival Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old has made an impressive return to professional tennis following his three-month doping ban.
Sinner has reached the Italian Open final, dropping just one set along the way and he has yet to lose a match all season.
But the World number one will face his toughest test yet, as he prepares to take on Carlos Alcaraz for the 11th time in their respective careers and it is expected to be a must-see encounter.
Jannik Sinner says who is better out of him and Carlos Alcaraz
The vast majority of the tennis world are of the view that Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are the ATP Tour’s best players.
They have proven they can win both at a consistent level and each level of the game, and their head-to-head matches are always compelling.
They look to be the pair that will define this new era of tennis, and they are constantly compared to one another.
Following his Italian Open semi-final, Sinner told fans to watch the final to see who emerges victorious, before expressing why he is happy to play Alcaraz on the eve of the French Open.
“We will know on Sunday! I don’t know. In my opinion today the match was difficult, Carlos and Lorenzo, there was a lot of wind,” Sinner said. “That changes a lot. It’s hard to see what level of match someone is playing if it’s so windy.
“It’s more of a game of who can handle those conditions better. There were a lot of breaks. But I don’t know exactly what percentage I’m at because I don’t know how long I can maintain a certain level. With Casper I managed to keep everything for a long time.
“But I repeat it does me a lot of good to play against Carlos before two Grand Slams, which are the most important tournaments. It gives me a good point of reference to see where I am and above all where I need to improve if I want to win a Grand Slam.”
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will contest the Italian Open final
A packed crowd is expected at the Foro Italico when Sinner and Alcaraz face one another in the Italian Open final.
This will be the 11th time they will face each other and their first final at Masters 1000 level.
Sinner will have the crowd on his side as he competes on home soil, but Alcaraz has experience playing against an Italian this week after beating Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz has lost just one match on clay so far this year, while Sinner has not been beaten since Alcaraz prevailed in the 2024 China Open final last October.
Alcaraz, who has won his last three matches against Sinner, is certainly ready for the challenge of facing the top seed in his home country.
“Jannik… I mean everybody saw the match against Casper. It was a huge level. Let’s see,” Alcaraz said. “Against Jannik, I have to be ready for that battle. And obviously dealing with the crowd. It’s gonna be an interesting Sunday for sure.”
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