Carlos Alcaraz Says Jannik Sinner ‘Surprised’ Him After Sunshine Double Win

Last Updated:April 06, 2026, 10:54 IST

Carlos Alcaraz lauds Jannik Sinner’s fitness ahead of Monte Carlo Masters, eyes clay court showdown and another strong European clay season run.

Carlos Alcaraz serves to Sebastian Korda at the Miami Open (Picture credit: AFP)

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said that he was surprised to see Jannik Sinner turn up for the Monte Carlo Masters after going the distance at the Indian Wells and the Miami Open, lauding his arch-rival’s fitness.

Alcaraz, fresh off titles at the Australian Open and Qatar Open, entered the Sunshine Double as the overwhelming favourite to sweep Indian Wells and Miami. But he was upset by Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinals and then stunned by Sebastian Korda in the third round in Miami.

Sinner made the most of Alcaraz’s early exits, clinching both Masters 1000 titles dominantly. The two now turn their focus to Monte Carlo, which marks the first Masters 1000 event of the European clay season.

Ahead of the event, Alcaraz attended a press conference.

“Honestly, I was surprised that Jannik, after Indian Wells, Miami and the whole tour, came to Monte Carlo to play, but obviously that speaks to the great physical condition he is in right now, what he is capable of,” Alcaraz said while speaking to the media.

“Hopefully, we can play here in Monte Carlo, who knows, but obviously we have not played together yet this year and I hope that happens on this clay court tour,” Alcaraz added.

The world No. 1, who starts his bid for a second successive Monte Carlo Masters title on Tuesday, has never completed a full European clay-court season.

Alcaraz won the Italian Open last year as well, with his only clay loss in 2025 coming against Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final.

“I miss clay every time that the clay season is over. I just miss it. It has been a long time since Roland Garros, and I just have not touched clay. The first practices that I got, I just said to my team, ‘It is time to get to the dirty socks again,” Alcaraz said.

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