Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been constantly reminded of what’s at stake here in Monaco regarding the battle for the world number one spot.
Realistically, they will have both known the permutations way before this event began, and yet it is seemingly all they have been asked about during.
Essentially, the Italian must outperform the 22-year-old’s at the Monte Carlo Masters to achieve the feat here. If he fails to, then it will likely just happen at the next clay-court event.
With that in mind, and the fact that it has dominated their press conferences, Jannik Sinner was actually asked whether he had spoken about their situation with Carlos Alcaraz. His answer was surprisingly dismissive.
Jannik Sinner discusses his battle with Carlos Alcaraz for the world number one spot
He began by insisting: “No, not really.”
Sinner would then add: “Apart from the fact that it’s a big part of the game, no, but I think both he and I are aware of the situation, both his and mine, and that’s it.
“I mean, there’s not much to say. I mean, I’m not playing next week at all. Um, I don’t know if he played Madrid last year. I don’t think so. So there’s only this tournament.
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“But I’m not even chasing this thing because otherwise I’d have to play next week and do everything even more. I’m playing this tournament because I’m at home, because playing matches is the best practice, and it’s good to have immediate feedback on clay.
“We’ll know after this tournament where we can work. But in the end, both he and I are playing for fun, not the ranking itself.”
He concluded with a rather surprising statement, claiming that the ranking race does not bother him at all: “In my opinion, it’s secondary right now.
“Let’s go back, the most important things to come will be Paris and Wimbledon, so you know. In my opinion, the ranking itself is a bit secondary right now.”
Alcaraz had already conceded that he would lose the world number one spot anyway, earlier this week.
Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
As Sinner claims, the ranking is unimportant right now. He will have far greater aspirations of claiming his first major clay-court title this week, and if he continues to perform in that manner, the ranking boosts will come naturally.
Next up for him is Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, which will mark the seventh career meeting between these two.
Unsurprisingly, the head-to-head is skewed in favour of the four-time major champion, who has bounced back after losing his first two matches against the Canadian.
Since then, Sinner has won their last four encounters and will be the overwhelming favourite to add to that run of form later today.
