Jannik Sinner has set up the much-anticipated tennis showdown with his win over Alexander Zverev.
After all, he has ensured a clash with Carlos Alcaraz, which will be their first in 2026.
It’s the match that every tennis fan has been craving this year, and yet despite their respective success, haven’t managed to engineer a showdown.
At last, we are guaranteed that clash, marking the 17th time we will see them do battle.
Jannik Sinner prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz for the first time in 2026
Chatting with Tennis Channel afterwards, he discussed the possibility of facing Alcaraz.
And, after his win over Valentin Vacherot, he confirmed that clash.
Jannik Sinner, in reference to that potential match-up, admitted: “I think for me, if it’s Carlos, you know, I never count out other players because, you know, everything can happen in this sport.
Who wins the Monte-Carlo Masters final?
“But if this might be Carlos, then, you know, I’m very happy to face him, at least, before Paris once, so I can see where I need to work on.”
Then, speaking about Alcaraz specifically, he added: “He loves his surface, he loves to play on here, he’s defending champion.
“So, I tried to put myself in a good position, but, yeah, you know, everything can happen in one day, we’ve not played in a long time, we haven’t faced each other. So, hopefully, this is the first time.”
The bulk of the tennis world shares this excitement, even if Alcaraz has conceded that Sinner will soon overtake him as world number one.
Every time Carlos Alcaraz has faced Jannik Sinner on clay
Although this will be their 17th match against one another, this is just the fourth time they will ever face on clay.
And, although last year’s Roland Garros final was arguably one of the greatest Grand Slam matches of all time, tomorrow promises to be even more enticing.
After all, it offers Sinner the opportunity to level the clay-court score to two wins apiece, with the Italian claiming the victory in their first-ever clash on the dirt in the Umag final.
This will be the first time they have faced one another in the Monte Carlo Masters.
