Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to be the two dominant forces during the clay court season once again.
Sinner beat Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters final, in what was their first meeting in 2026 so far.
This result enabled Sinner to return to the world number one ranking, which could change hands if Alcaraz wins the Barcelona Open this week.
When looking ahead to the rest of the clay court season, former top 30 player Steve Johnson has revealed who he thinks will have the better clay court season out of Sinner and Alcaraz.
Steve Johnson says he ‘trusts’ Jannik Sinner more on clay than Carlos Alcaraz this year
When reflecting on the Monte Carlo Masters final on the Nothing Major Podcast, Johnson admitted that he trusted Sinner slightly more on clay than Alcaraz this year due to his scheduling.
However, Johnson then suggested that Alcaraz would be able to pull it back together for the French Open.
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“I trust Sinner more, just a hair, and that’s because I think he’s going to play less,” said Johnson. “Carlos is going to play Barcelona this week. Then he is going to play Madrid and Rome. That is just one extra tournament that Sinner is not going to play and these Masters series events are long, even though he will have – presuming Carlos makes the final or wins Barcelona – six or seven days off before Madrid.
“They are still long though. It’s the preparation and the days off, all the stuff that goes into it, it’s a long stretch with these two week Masters series back to back.
“I like Sinner a little bit more because the second one is in Rome, which he may be a bit more comfortable in, being in Italy. So I like Sinner until the French and then I think Carlos figures it out at the French.”
Former Wimbledon semifinalist Sam Querrey then weighed into the conversation, as he predicted Alcaraz to withdraw from the Italian Open next month.
Querrey said, “I think Carlos plays Barcelona and Madrid and then pulls out of Rome.”
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How do Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s records on clay compare?
Although Sinner won the Monte Carlo Masters final, it is actually Alcaraz who has a better record on clay than his biggest rival.
Alcaraz has won nine more titles on clay than Sinner, and also has a better win-loss record.
After Alcaraz beat Sinner in the French Open final last year, he has now won two titles at the clay court major.
In their five meetings on clay, Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 3-2, including both of their matches at the French Open.
| Jannik Sinner on clay | Carlos Alcaraz on clay | |
| Win-loss Record | 70-24 (74.5%) | 107-20 (84.3%) |
| Titles Won | 2 | 11 |
| Best French Open result | Final (2025) | Won the title (2024 & 2025) |
| Wins in the Head-to-Head | 2 | 3 |
Sinner will be hoping to join Alcaraz as a French Open champion this year, which would enable him to become the 10th man to complete the Career Grand Slam.
The next clay court tournament where they are both scheduled to play is the Madrid Open, but Sinner has suggested that he could withdraw from the tournament.
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