Jannik Sinner 'has changed to professional' claims Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - Australian Open 2024

February 24, 2024

ATP Tennis Players, Carlos Alcaraz, Tennis News

Jannik Sinner ‘has changed to professional’ claims Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner has won all 12 of his matches so far in 2024, and Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that he is now looking over his shoulder in the ATP rankings.

Sinner claimed the first Grand Slam title of his career at the Australian Open last month, before returning with another triumph in Rotterdam last week to lift the Italian up to a new career-high of No.3.

Thank you Rotterdam! I always enjoy my time here, a great week and amazing support. Another awesome battle @alexdeminaur ????????

Forza ????✌️#12 pic.twitter.com/kLvdS7QdLy

— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) February 18, 2024

This has left Sinner only 835 points behind the No.2 position currently held by Alcaraz, something that the Spaniard has confessed he is well aware of, “I notice his breath. I think he still got 1,000 points [to catch me], but for Jannik that’s nothing. I have to be on top of my game as much as I can to try not to let him catch up with me and regain No. 1.”

The gap between Alcaraz and Sinner will close to 535 points on Monday, with the former dropping 300 points after retiring from his first round match at the Rio Open this week.

Alcaraz will then have to defend 1,000 points from winning the Indian Wells title last year, followed by 360 points at the Miami Open, both events where No.1 Novak Djokovic can only gain points after being unable to compete at them in 2023.

Sinner has only lost two matches since the US Open last year, and Alcaraz has spoken about the changes he has seen in the Italian since then, “I have always said that there is no secret. He has worked very hard and it has shown. In every tournament he is very focused on the things he has to do, he is a very hard worker.”

Alcaraz continued, “I discuss it with Juan Carlos [Ferrero] many times when we see him. If I compare it with the Sinner from before, it has changed to professional. Before he was, but now he is even more so, working every day and having things clear. The day-to-day work pays off and that is what has happened with Jannik and I am both happy for him and for his team.”

Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner are all turning their attention to the sunshine double next, with the Indian Wells tournament beginning on Wednesday 6th March.

This is a dream flight to #TennisParadise ????

????: @DjokerNole | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/jMQlnru2t1

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 23, 2024

Inside the baseline…

The race for that world No.1 spot is really heating up, with Carlos Alcaraz having a lot of points to defend in the next month or so. Novak Djokovic at least has some security until the clay court season having been banned from entering the US this time last year due to his vaccination status, so he can only gain points at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. However, all the momentum is currently with Jannik Sinner, who has been a completely different player since the latter stages of 2023.

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic in the race for world No.1

With the race for the top ranking spots hotting up, we at Tennishead wanted to look at the ranking points that Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner can gain and will drop in the coming weeks:

Current No.1: Novak Djokovic

Current ranking point total: 9,855 points

Number of points falling from his ranking until the Miami Open: 180 points

Maximum number of points he can gain in this time: 1820 points

Current No.2: Carlos Alcaraz

Current ranking point total: 9,105 points

Number of points falling from his ranking until the Miami Open: 1660 points

Maximum number of points he can gain in this time: 340 points

Current No.3: Jannik Sinner

Current ranking point total: 8,270 points

Number of points falling from his ranking until the Miami Open: 960 points

Maximum number of points he can gain in this time: 1040 points