Jannik Sinner is gearing up for what many believe will be a historic campaign here in Rome, where he is bidding to become the first man in history to win six consecutive Masters 1000 titles.
And, given the fact that he lost in last year’s final, the Italian has added incentive to shine in front of his home crowd.
Fortunately for him, the player who beat him in that final will not be present this time around, with Carlos Alcaraz ruled out through injury.
However, despite the obvious benefit this has for Jannik Sinner, the 24-year-old has continued to attest that tennis is worse off without him.
Jannik Sinner admits the Italian Open won’t be the same without Carlos Alcaraz
His latest claims ahead of his Italian Open opener have only reinforced that standpoint, seemingly expressing regret at the fact that he will not face such an extraordinary hurdle on his way to the title.
Sinner began by stating the obvious: “I think Carlos has incredible qualities – probably unmatched at the moment.”
When does Jannik Sinner next lose a tennis match? 👀
He continued: “You could see for a long time that he has the ability to reach unbelievably high levels, where it almost becomes impossible to keep up with him, but I believe I’m a very consistent player.
“I try to stay mentally focused on every single point and give my maximum all the time. Whether you’re world No 1 or No 2 doesn’t change much, because every match starts from zero and everything is decided on the court.”
Sinner concluded by expressing his regret, adding: “Carlos has been unlucky, because if he were here, the situation would be different. As for me, I’m happy with what I’m doing, but now there’s another tournament ahead.”
With the Spaniard also out of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic is set to benefit from Alcaraz’s absence too, having proven he can beat Sinner after their dramatic clash in Melbourne earlier this year.
When is Carlos Alcaraz meant to be back from injury?
Given the nature of wrist injuries, extreme caution must be taken.
After all, this is an issue that has ravaged many promising tennis careers in the past, with Juan Martin del Potro and Dominic Thiem two Grand Slam champions who likely could have done so much more were it not for persistent wrist complications.
How worried are you about Carlos Alcaraz’s injury?
Carlos Alcaraz will miss Rome and Roland Garros…
Carlos Alcaraz is on track to enjoy one of the greatest careers in the sport’s history, and if it were curtailed by such an injury, it would truly be a tragedy.
That is why there is no need for the 23-year-old, who still has so much time left in his career, to rush back.
A recent update on Alcaraz’s injury suggested that he could be back as early as Queen’s, but the general timeframe seems to outline Wimbledon as a realistic goal for his return.
