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Now, though, who knows? Over the last year or so, Jannik Sinner has discovered his best self, adding pop to his already nails groundstrokes and improving his hands at the net. He also knows he can come from behind then stay calm enough to see out the win, in the final of a Grand Slam – and that he’s still got plenty of improving left to do.
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Carlos Alcaraz knows the same things – yes, without the staying calm bit, but that’s the beauty of him and a beauty of this contest. Like Sinner, he’ll attack everything, but unlike Sinner, you simply cannot predict how; the tuissle is artist v artisan, jamming v playing and freestyling v rapping.
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So what are the points of difference? Well, Sinner hits it slightly harder but Alcaraz hits it slightly more consistently, and on clay the latter is of slightly greater use. But on this occasion the sense is that style – how they play – will be subservient to substance – how well they play. Or, in other words, I don’t have a clue, and anyone who says they do is lying. What, though, feels certain, is that this match-up is not just the present but the future – and it’s going to be great.
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Play: not before 2.30pm local, 1.30pm BST
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Important Events
Alcaraz 0-4 Sinner* On Monday, Sinner will be the new world No. 1. And he’s playing just like it. Everything is unhurried, and he’s winning points with ease. This is his second hold at love in two matches, and this set already looks that way.
*Alcaraz 0-3 Sinner Is Alcaraz even close to that level? A backhand winner puts him up 30-15, but Sinner serves back for a near ace with a great forehand hook into the corner to tie the score from there. At this point, Alcaraz is building up the points nicely and gets the point for a second break with a backhand winner on the line! And guess what! Another decent return from Sinner raises the question, but a shank off the frame isn’t the wrong answer everyone was expecting – it’s a double break! It’s worth noting that Djokovic won the first set 6-1 in last year’s Wimbledon final, but Alcaraz is not in the same form now as he was then.
Alcaraz 0-2 Sinner* I don’t understand why Sinner wears a rust-colored T-shirt — maybe to camouflage himself on clay — but then why doesn’t he take off his hat and let his hair untangled? While we ponder these important questions, the man himself remains in love and in top form on court, his victory in Australia bringing both his highs and his lows.
*Alcaraz 0-1 Sinner (* denotes server) At 15-0, Sinner comes charging in. Pushed back, but not pushed back all the way, he hits a forehand cross-court winner from the backhand side. And look! With a nice slide, he spreads his feet and hits a backhand cross-court winner from almost the same spot. A very good sign. But Alcaraz is at 40-30… but he hesitates on the point in his position and shoots it into the net. Murcia Murthy settled with an ace down the T, but when he tried his first drop, Sinner went after it (that high bounce) and took the lead. This was already a tense, fascinating match that could continue into tomorrow. Then, when Alcaraz dropped his second forehand, Sinner broke!
Alcaraz served, … play.
The two have faced each other eight times. The score is 4-4. Remember that last year Alcaraz’s body, and to be honest, his mind, lost to Djokovic. The stress of the match caused him to cramp. That won’t happen today, because he’s sure it won’t happen again. But he won’t forget it.
Our players are stretching in the tunnel. I can’t wait for this, and luckily for you, there is no need to wait, we are ready and they are coming!
Since you stopped listening, I think I’m leaning towards Sinner. I would pick Alacaras because I think he has the momentum, but I would pick him because I think he is the better, more experienced clay court player, and still, I think he is, well, the better player.
It’s sunny today, so the pace and bounce are decent. And yes, I typed that in Michael Holding’s voice. Alcaraz likes to drop, so I thought that might work to Sinner’s advantage, but then Alex Corretja explained that it might work to Carlitos’ advantage, as he uses a lot of topspin on his forehand and likes to move side to side.
Our resident coach, Calvin Betton, Second Cicada’s Message: “Forehand-to-forehand, Ruud. Backhand-to-backhand, Zverev. Zverev has the best first serve and backhand in the game and he hits them a lot. Ruud’s backhand is very poor.”
Of course, this isn’t our only match. Then Katie Murrells breaks down Kasper Ruud vs. Alexander Zverev, a repeat of last year’s semifinal, where Ruud won in three games. It’s unclear whether the match will play out the same way this time, but Zverev has grown bigger and has bigger weapons. So if he plays well, he’ll almost certainly win, but if Ruud can get past his still-weak forehand (which he’s getting better at hiding now) and second serve, he’ll have a chance.
preamble
Tennis is in a strange place right now. It’s a strange place, but a wonderful place. When you watch the women’s match, you have no idea what’s going to happen. Who predicted Mila Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini would make the semifinals? Nobody. Meanwhile, when you watch the men’s match, you feel like you know it, more or less. Who predicted Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev would make the semifinals? Um, everyone? The only surprise is Novak Djokovic’s absence, but if it weren’t for injury, he probably would have found a way to sneak in.
But who knows what will happen now. Over the past year or so, Jannik Sinner has discovered his best self, adding power to his already flawless groundstrokes and improving his handle at the net. He also knows he can come back and stay cool and win in a Grand Slam final. But he also knows he still has a lot of room to improve.
Carlos Alcaraz knows the same thing. Sure, he’s not as cool, but that’s his beauty, and the beauty of this contest. Like Sinner, he’ll try anything, but unlike Sinner, you can’t predict how he’ll do it. This is artist versus craftsman, jamming versus performing, freestyle versus rap.
So what’s the difference? Well, Sinner is a little stronger, Alcaraz a little more consistent. The latter has a slight advantage on clay. But this time, it feels like the style, the way they play, is subordinated to the content, the quality of their play. In other words, I have no idea, and anyone who says they do is lying. But what feels certain is that this matchup is not just the present but the future, and it’s going to be great.
Play begins: 2:30pm local time, 1:30pm BST
