Jannik Sinner will have been left frustrated by yesterday’s loss against Carlos Alcaraz.
After all, the match was there to be won, but as Laura Robson detailed, the 20-year-old just turned on the style at the perfect moment.
As such, coming from a set down has set up a repeat of the 2023 Indian Wells final, and ended the 22-year-old’s remarkable winning run at last.
But, his post-match assessment of his own performance was blunt…
Jannik Sinner on his loss to Carlos Alcaraz
Speaking following the match, the Italian was frank in his assessment of the loss.
Having raced into a one-set lead, the manner in which he collapsed will have left him and his team frustrated. After all, it seemed like he was cruising into the final initially, but not before a miraculous and emphatic comeback by Alcaraz.
However, the 22-year-old has admitted that, whilst his opponent impressed, he let himself down.
Sinner offered the following suggestion, a sentiment coach Darren Cahill also agreed with: ‘What I missed today is that I was too predictable at some points. I was doing the same things over and over again, which in my mind let me down.
‘I was playing really good the first set. Then after, when you see your opponent struggling a little bit, I tried to stay solid instead of trying to move [him] around. So I was too predictable at some points. I think that’s the lesson for today. We will work on certain things, and hopefully I will get better.’
Jannik Sinner to dust himself down ahead of Miami Open
Having been left desperately disappointed by his inability to capitalise on such a fast start, Sinner has now been afforded ample time to rest, recover and return ready to hopefully conquer next week’s Miami Open.
Whilst he obviously would have wanted to have been in the Indian Wells final, batting for the crown that Alcaraz still holds, he still has protected his valuable ranking points, having been beaten at the same stage by the same opponent in 2023.
Losing in the Miami Open final last year too to Daniil Medvedev, this marks another tough challenge to match, and hopefully even better what he achieved then.
But few can argue with the progress he has made across the last few months, swiftly growing into one of tennis’ brightest sparks.
His ability to go toe-to-toe with a talent like Alcaraz is indicative of this.
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