Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are touted to be the next faces of the ATP once Novak Djokovic ultimately retires. While the two prodigies have witnessed almost equal success in their young careers, both acknowledge that they have polar opposite attributes.
It is easy to differentiate the tangible skills between the two players. Alcaraz plays the game at a rapid pace and often charges at the net while pulling off several drop shots. Whereas Sinner thrives when indulging in longer rallies, primarily when placed at the baseline.
Reflecting on their contrasting intangibles, the Italian youngster claimed that he was mentally stronger than the four-time Grand Slam winner.
“Alcaraz and I are two very different players. I keep the pace very high, I’m mentally strong. He is physically strong,” Sinner claimed.
Jannik Sinner on how he & Carlos Alcaraz are different as tennis players:
“Alcaraz and I are two very different players. I keep the pace very high, I’m mentally strong. He is physically strong and tennis-wise he has something more at the moment. He plays slice and volleys… pic.twitter.com/seEByMHEMc
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 27, 2024
Fans didn’t appreciate this take, believing that the 23-year-old was simply wrong. They didn’t show any mercy when attacking Sinner for his personal opinion.
So wait this doper is taking a swipe at Carlos. Saying Carlos isn’t mentally strong???? Wow the balls the establishment has given this . So funny if Carlos wasn’t mentally strong then he wouldn’t be 3-0 against u this season so maybe u aren’t as mentally strong as you think…
— Corporate TennisBish (@Princess0937) October 27, 2024
Beg to disagree. Carlos is way stronger mentally though when it matters the most. Until he beats him in a B05, I will change my opinion.
— Just KJ (@Kj_Allivart) October 27, 2024
Carlos is the more mentally strong of the 2
— Mark Tomeh (@MarkTomeh) October 28, 2024
Differentiating mental strength between any two players is a difficult task. However, the San Candido native has recently demonstrated qualities that suggest he may be mentally tougher than Alcaraz.
Has Sinner been mentally stronger than Alcaraz in the recent past?
Carlos Alcaraz has a fiery demeanor on the court. He plays the game with a certain level of flashiness that also gets the crowd and himself amped up. But there have also been instances where the Spaniard has failed to keep his cool. During the Cincinnati Masters 2024, the 21-year-old attracted negative publicity for smashing his racket following an opening-round loss against Gael Monfils.
The video of Carlos Alcaraz’ racquet smash.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen Carlos this frustrated on the court.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 16, 2024
On the other hand, Sinner hasn’t had any major on-court outbursts that involve smashing rackets, expressing frustration at his team, or having any altercations with opponents or umpires in the recent past.
Sinner has also spent a significant portion of the season dealing with constant criticism from the media and fans regarding the doping incident. It is not easy to ignore all the harsh criticism and still perform exceptionally well. Some fans and pundits have accused him of intentionally consuming banned substances and suggested that he receive a multi-year suspension for this act.
The World No.1 has not responded to any such naysayer. His reaction to the outburst? Winning the US Open, the Shanghai Masters, and finishing the China Open as the runner-up. That should silence some of his critics.