Carlos Alcaraz’s 2025 season ended on a sour note after losing to Jannik Sinner in the final of the ATP Finals.
The Spaniard was unable to convert a set point opportunity in the first set before going on to lose 6-7, 5-7 in Turin.
The win extended Sinner’s indoor hard-court win streak to 31 matches, while Alcaraz will have to wait another year for the opportunity to end his ATP Finals drought.
Alcaraz has much to be cheerful about. After all, he has secured the year-end world number one trophy for a second time.
However, Steve Johnson believes there is an issue Alcaraz must address when it comes to his future matches against Sinner on indoor hard-courts.
Steve Johnson says Jannik Sinner’s ground game is a ‘bad sign’ for Carlos Alcaraz
Former world number 21 Steve Johnson has weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s latest clash in Italy.
The American, a winner of four ATP Tour titles, expressed his concern regarding the dominance of Jannik Sinner’s groundstroke game.
On the Nothing Major podcast, Johnson said: “I just think Sinner is so comfortable indoors. He has talked about it, there is no wind, no sun, no elements. The ball is just there and I don’t think there is a guy whose strikes are cleaner more consistently and hits it bigger than Sinner.
“There are guys that hit the ball cleanly, but they can’t do it as consistently and close to the lines. I just think Sinner is so good indoors and his serve was great.
“The first three Slams these guys played this year, whoever served at a higher percentage in that match won. Sinner did not serve that well [in the ATP Finals] but he backed it up so well from the ground, there is nothing you can do consistently from the ground to beat him.
“Sure, there is a game plan. In theory, it’s on the board somewhere. But it’s impossible to execute for two hours in a two-out-of-three indoor match, at least.
“I just don’t see that out of anyone and Carlos is the best guy to do it. And I don’t think he thinks he can do it. That’s a bad sign for Carlos, especially indoors.
“They are not going to play that many indoor matches together but I guess if you count the US Open or the French [Open] if the roof is closed.
“But in a specifically indoor tournament, Sinner’s level just gets exponentially better, which is a bad sign, as everyone has watched for the better part of three years now.”
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Playing devil’s advocate, Sinner’s strong ground game is vital to the rivalry he and Carlos Alcaraz have created.
Sinner has far from dominated his rivalry with Alcaraz. In fact, he has won only two of their last nine ATP Tour matches.
Overall, Sinner has a 6-10 losing record against the Spaniard.
Simply put, Sinner’s superiority on indoor hard courts and his strong ground game are factors needed to maintain an equilibrium in his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz.
Where next for Carlos Alcaraz?
It remains to be seen whether Carlos Alcaraz will be seen on a tennis court during the off-season.
This is because Alcaraz has announced his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals due to a muscular edema in his right hamstring.
The Spaniard is scheduled to play two exhibition events on December 7 and 8, in New Jersey and Miami.
However, his participation in these events is now, understandably, a question mark.
