Alcaraz: People love to hype up the rivalry between me and Sinner, but we are friends and don’t need to imitate others.

Recently, Spanish star Alcaraz gave an exclusive interview to the Financial Times, where he discussed his competitive relationship with world number one Sinner. He also emphasized that he and Sinner are good friends, not the adversaries that the public perceives them to be.

When discussing his relationship with Sinner, Alcaraz stated, “People really enjoy the idea of friction between us. That’s the selling point. Although tennis is an individual sport, Yannick and I often meet off the court. We communicate and train together, and our relationship is great. We crave victory and want to surpass each other, but off the court, we both just want to be good people, that’s all.”

Alcaraz's candid remarks in the Financial Times have sent shockwaves through the tennis world, completely shattering the stereotype of the two as “archrivals.”

According to media reports, just last week, fans spotted the two having lunch together in Monte Carlo, with the game screen of Call of Duty flashing on their phones. “They even share a physical trainer!” an ATP insider revealed to L'Équipe, “Such a relationship would have been unimaginable during the Federer-Nadal era.”

Psychologist Emma Hughes wrote in The Guardian: “With the departure of the Big Three era, the healthy competition between Alcaraz and Sinner comes at a perfect time. However, they prove that top players don’t need to demonize their opponents to ignite their competitive spirit—this is Generation Z’s redefinition of sportsmanship.”

Reflecting on the various rivalries in the locker room during the Big Three era, Alcaraz admitted, “I believe that in tennis history, there will always be great rivals, but we don’t need to replicate anyone. If you’re always trying to catch up with others, the pressure will consume you.”

This clarity has moved the veterans; Nadal expressed to students on the opening day of the Rafa Academy, “Back then, I was always trying to catch up with Sampras, while Carlos teaches us that true legacy is about paving new paths.”

This year's French Open final showcased the best representation of their relationship. Alcaraz staged a stunning comeback after being down 0-2 and facing three championship points in the fourth set. Soaked in sweat afterward, he was the first to embrace Sinner: “This victory is precious precisely because it was against the top opponent.”

That 5-hour and 29-minute battle set the record for the longest French Open final and gave rise to a memorable saying in tennis: “Want a Grand Slam? Go beat Sinner!” The Italian also responded with action: after avenging himself in the Wimbledon final, he refused to celebrate and instead approached Alcaraz's team to pay his respects.

In this regard, Alcaraz's mentor Ferrero revealed the key insight: “Carlos’s personality determines how he interacts with his competitors.” The former French Open champion recalled that Alcaraz often sought out opponents for practice when he was just 15, saying, “He would analyze Sinner's serve and Djokovic's return, but never viewed them as threats.”

“This is in stark contrast to the competitive philosophy of the Big Three era,” Ferrero acknowledged. “When you’re fighting for major honors, it’s hard to be without animosity, but Carlos proves that rivalry and respect can coexist!”

One netizen commented, “In a sense, the Federer-Nadal rivalry is a classical tragedy; that kind of fierce competition feels brutal, but Alcaraz and Sinner are like a healing anime—this era of tennis needs some sweetness! They share training, compete for sponsors, yet dominate all the Grand Slam finals! It’s fascinating!”

In fact, greatness doesn’t have to be built on hatred; the throne can also bear goodwill. When competition fades, the essence of tennis remains respect for people, respect for the opponent across the net—that is the spirit of sportsmanship!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)