Carlos Alcaraz has just played the 'Six Kings Slam' in Saudi Arabia, where he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals before being beaten by his great rival Jannik Sinner in the final. The young Spanish champion has returned to a very high level after having had a bad time after the Olympic tournament, as shown by the premature elimination at the US Open against Botic van de Zandschulp.
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The former world number 1 had trouble regaining his energy after losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Olympic tournament and admitted that it was not easy to return to the maximum intensity. From this point of view, the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup were fundamental to allow Carlitos to return to the top of his form.
The four-time Grand Slam champion won the ATP 500 in Beijing, defeating Jannik Sinner at the end of one of the most exciting matches of the entire season. 0-3 down in the decisive tiebreak, the 21-year-old from Murcia scored a series of exceptional points that allowed him to win his fourth title in 2024 (after Indian Wells, the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships).
The World number 2 reached the quarterfinals at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, where he was surprised by a deluxe version of Tomas Machac. The Spanish legend decided not to play the ATP 500 in Basel this week, so as to regain energy for the final part of the season. His next tournament will be the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy, before the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
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Carlitoson Dominic Thiem
Although Carlitos wont be playing this week, he wanted to say some nice words about Dominic Thiem. The Austrian player - champion in New York in 2020 - will play the last tournament of his professional career in Vienna in front of his fans. "My little brother played tennis and was a big fan of Dominic Thiem Alcaraz revealed. He played with Thiems racket, not mine! So he was always watching Dominics games, and my brother would often say to me, I want to play like Dominic Thiem. I want to play like him, with the same racket and the same style he added.
The former world number 1 has played a great season again this year and continues his extraordinary rivalry with Jannik Sinner. The two young champions played four incredible matches in 2024, although they have never yet faced each other in a final of a Grand Slam tournament or a Masters 1000.
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In the latest edition of his podcast, ATP legend Jimmy Connors spoke about Carlitos and Jannik: "It's been good to see the last year or two, to see Alcaraz and Sinner kind of step up and start taking it. We've talked about that since the first podcast we ever did, 'who's going to jump up and take it away?' These two guys have really separated themselves, especially over the last year with Sinner and the kind of year he had, but Alcaraz with the last two years.
Tennis is in good hands
The 21-year-old from Murcia has won two more Majors than Sinner so far, but the Italian ace has had a crazy rise in the last 12 months. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has become consistent on every surface and his first position in the ATP ranking is fully deserved although Carlos' peaks are often higher.
During the press conference in Saudi Arabia, the Spaniard discussed his rivalry with Sinner: "All our matches are very tough, they are always two very hard sets or three/five sets. They are always very close encounters, he pushes me to the limit. I know I have to bring out my best tennis if I want to beat him. As a tennis player, I love these kinds of battles, but sometimes I prefer it to be easier. He makes me a better player.
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I hope this rivalry improves over the years. I want to say that I am very grateful to have him on the tour, thanks to him I push myself to my limits to improve, giving my 100% every day. It is always a pleasure to share the court with him, although sometimes it is difficult to enjoy."
Fans are hoping that the worlds top two players will face off again in the seasons final tournaments. The most important events are the Nitto ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals, where the tennis world will be greeting a living legend like Rafa Nadal. Spain is considered the second favorite by bookmakers behind Italy, who lifted the trophy last year.
