Adriano Panatta criticizes Carlos Alcaraz: “it seemed like he was doing us a favor.”

The unexpected defeat of Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Masters 1000, against American Sebastian Korda, has sparked a wave of criticism, with former Italian tennis player Adriano Panatta being particularly vocal. In his regular appearance on Rai 2’s ‘La nuova DS’ program, Panatta did not hold back in his comments on the young Spaniard’s performance, which left many fans perplexed. With this loss, Jannik Sinner sees a clear opportunity to close the gap further in the ranking, especially with the clay court season approaching.

“In the first two sets, Alcaraz did not impress me at all. It almost seemed like he was doing us a favor by playing,” Panatta stated. He pointed out that in the second set, Korda appeared nervous, but nevertheless, he would have won easily if he had kept his composure. “In the third set, Alcaraz improved a bit, but in the end, the American won fairly. He reminded me of Leão in Miami: unmotivated and lacking the necessary grit, he was eliminated as he deserved,” analyzed Panatta, making it clear that Alcaraz’s performance did not meet expectations.

The rivalry between the two best tennis players in the world currently, Alcaraz and Sinner, was also a hot topic in the discussion. Panatta commented on the intensity of the tournaments they both compete in, stating that “they play so violently and physically that they tire themselves out much more than before and end up getting injured.” He added that maintaining a high level of play throughout the entire season is an almost impossible task, especially with the added pressure of new talents emerging in the same age group.

With Alcaraz’s exit, Sinner’s chance of winning the Sunshine Double in Miami now seems more attainable. “It could be easier, but that’s nothing new. In tennis, you can always lose, but Sinner tends to lose less than Alcaraz, that’s a fact,” noted Panatta, highlighting the difference between the two players.

Finally, the former tennis player reflected on the recent statements by Joao Fonseca, who had classified Sinner as a “robot.” “Saying that Jannik is a robot is unfair, as he has soul. Sinner has a great soul both as a player and as a person. Technically, Fonseca is right, as Alcaraz has more weapons. If I could make an analogy with football, I would say that Sinner is like Haaland, while Alcaraz resembles Mbappé. That’s the difference: two great champions, but with distinct styles,” concluded Panatta, making clear his appreciation for the uniqueness of each athlete.

With this clash of opinions, the tennis community eagerly awaits the next chapters of the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, as the scene prepares for the clay court season, which promises to be electrifying.