The Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the US Open represent the two new stages of the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who will compete for the first position in the ATP rankings until the end of this season. The 22-year-old Spaniard won Roland Garros for the second year in a row at the end of an epic final, in which he also cancelled out three match points, but the current world No.1 took revenge on his top rival at the Wimbledon Championships by becoming the first Italian ever to lift the trophy in London.
The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria is still at the top of the ATP rankings, but he will have to defend many more points than Carlitos in the coming months and risks being overtaken. The four-time Grand Slam champion will be called upon to defend 3000 points between Cincinnati and New York, unlike his main rival who had not shone in these two events last season.
Piatti talks about Sinner and Alcaraz
There is no doubt that the US Open – scheduled in New York from August 24 to September 7 – will be fundamental in the race for the first position in the ATP rankings, with the Italian and the Spaniard doing everything possible to play their best tennis in Flushing Meadows.
In a long interview with 'La Stampa', top coach Riccardo Piatti – who worked with Sinner until 2022 – analyzed this amazing rivalry in detail: "Carlos' top goal is the US Open: if the Spaniard were to triumph in New York, it would become very difficult for Jannik to finish the year as number 1.
They are two champions who love competition and aspire to become the best version of themselves, without obsessions of any kind. Sinner has raised his level exponentially in the last year and has understood that he will have the chance to make the Grand Slam in the coming seasons. I've always thought so."
In the 2022 edition of the US Open, Jannik and Carlitos played a memorable match in the quarterfinals.
