Men's tennis will only return to being an open fight with the return of Carlos Alcaraz, assures Adriano Panatta. The French Open champion did not hold back in praising Jannik Sinner, but emphasized that the Italian is “simply too strong” for the other competitors without the Spaniard in the competition.
Alcaraz won the first two tournaments of 2026 — the Australian Open and the Qatar Open — with Sinner falling in the semi-finals and quarter-finals, respectively. However, the scenario changed with Sinner winning Indian Wells and Miami, completing the “Sunshine Double,” while Alcaraz suffered eliminations in the semi-finals and the third round. The only direct confrontation between the two this season took place in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters in April, with Sinner winning 7-6(5), 6-3. Since then, Alcaraz has not played again due to a wrist injury suffered at the Barcelona Open.
The 2026 WORLD CUP IS EXPERIENCED WITH LEGO.
During the absence of the Spaniard, Sinner shone by winning Wimbledon and the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome, while Alexander Zverev claimed the title at the French Open. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Panatta stated that only with Alcaraz back can the rivalry with Sinner make men's tennis truly competitive. “I am waiting for him, convinced that only with both together — Sinner on one side, Alcaraz on the other — will tennis return to being an open duel, the one we all desire. Right now it is not, and it cannot be.”
The former world number 4 also highlighted Sinner's superiority, especially after his second victory at Wimbledon: “He faced Zverev — who had just won in Paris and risen to number two in the rankings — and inflicted on him his tenth consecutive defeat. Sport — not just tennis — needs fierce rivalries to be as exciting as possible.”
Regarding the Wimbledon final between Sinner and Zverev, Panatta praised the German's approach: “Zverev faced him in the best possible way; I have to give him credit. The victory in Paris restored the confidence that many unexpected defeats had shaken. He is a top player, with solid shots and a serve that dominates throughout the match. But Sinner is clearly a level above. The match was balanced until 6-6 in the second set; from then on, the Italian 'train' faced no more obstacles.”
With Alcaraz still recovering, men's tennis remains dominated by Sinner, who is proving unstoppable. The expectation is that the Spaniard's return will reignite the competition and bring back to fans the much-anticipated showdown between the two young talents.
NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE
O MUNDIAL 2026 VIVE-SE COM A LEGO
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
