Carlos Alcaraz snaps Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak in latest installment of their fierce rivalry
Carlos Alcaraz snaps Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak in latest installment of their fierce rivalry
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 1-6 6-3 6-2 in the Indian Wells men’s semifinals on Saturday, snapping the Italian’s 19-match winning streak in the latest chapter of their fierce rivalry.
Sinner had enjoyed an unbeaten start to the year and his maiden grand slam at the Australian Open in January, but he succumbed to a defeat against the 20-year-old Spaniard who is fast becoming his biggest rival.
“I stayed strong mentally,” Alcaraz said afterward, according to the ATP, referencing his deficit in the opening set.
“I think that’s a really important part in this game. You have to be strong mentally if you want to overcome these kind of matches, a set down against someone that’s playing an unbelievable game. I’m really happy with the things that I’ve done after that.”
After heavy rain had delayed the start of the match, Sinner took the opening set 6-1, seeming utterly dominant, winning four consecutive games and facing just one break point.
But Alcaraz rallied in the second set, holding his first service game even as it went to deuce and used that platform to launch his comeback. Every previous clash between these two young stars has produced otherworldly rallies, and this one was no different as they scampered all over the court, playing 19 net points in the second set alone.