Jannik Sinner is playing in Madrid this week. © ANSA / Chema Moya

Sinner and number 1: “Don’t want to put pressure on me”

Due to Novak Djokovic's absence from the Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Madrid, Jannik Sinner has the chance to move within 330 points of the leading Serb in the world rankings by winning the title.

24 April 2024

From: dpa/dl

A three-way battle could develop towards the French Open, especially if Carlos Alcaraz does well again in Madrid as he did when he won the title in 2023. The Spaniard is third, 515 points behind Australian Open winner Sinner, but has great respect for the South Tyrolean.

“He is dangerous, currently the best player in the world. I don't think his game is suited to clay at all, but he's had good results there too. I'm playing with him and Novak for number 1, it will be difficult," said Alcaraz. Sinner only lost two matches this year. Since he was eliminated in round two of the French Open last year, but Djokovic won the title, a changing of the guard is realistic after the major at the latest.

“Jannik is dangerous, currently the best player in the world.” Carlos Alcaraz

Of course, Sinner doesn’t give it any thought: “I don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I'm winning a lot of matches at the moment and I just want to keep it up." Sinner starts in Madrid after an opening bye top seed against the Frenchman Richard Gasquet or against his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego (SportNews berichtete) – either on Friday or Saturday. Alcaraz is waiting for the winner of the game between the French Arthur Rinderknech and the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko.

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