Carlos Alcaraz is determined to maintain his advantage over Jannik Sinner

The Spanish player aims to finish the season ranked number one in the world.

Carlos Alcaraz is preparing for the return of Jannik Sinner, his biggest rival, after defeating the Italian player in the recent US Open final. In that match, Alcaraz won in four sets to claim the title, sharing the Grand Slam trophies this year evenly with Sinner.

The rivalry between them has gone beyond a typical sports confrontation. Sinner has stated he will change his playing style to become more unpredictable next year. However, Alcaraz said he will always try to stay one step ahead: “I know he will alter something from our previous match. Just like I did when I lost to him a few times, I try to become a better player. Next time we meet, I expect that change and I must stay focused and ready to face it.”

Alcaraz emphasized that this competition benefits both himself and the world of tennis: “I think our rivalry is becoming more exciting. The future will show how many times we meet and under what circumstances, but right now everything is going very well.”

Their next goal is to compete for the year-end number one ranking, with Alcaraz currently holding the advantage thanks to his US Open performance. Still, the 22-year-old insists he is not overly focused on it: “I always say my goal is to sit at the table with tennis legends, but right now I don’t think too much about the number one spot. I’m only 22 and have already achieved a lot. What matters is paying attention to every detail daily, training well, and seeing what the future holds.”

While Sinner is competing in Beijing, Alcaraz has chosen to change his schedule by participating in the Japan Open in Tokyo for the first time. Here, he aims to add his name to the prestigious list of champions including Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. “I know this is a big tournament and it’s an honor to take part. I want to play my best tennis, give my all, and strive to win the trophy. I want my name to be mentioned alongside past champions,” Alcaraz shared.

Alcaraz will begin his campaign in Tokyo with an opening match against Sebastian Baez.