Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on rivalry in battle for year-end world No. 1 ranking - 'I see him more than my mum'
By Will Conroy
Updated 12/11/2025 at 09:09 GMT
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Carlos Alcaraz joked he is seeing Jannik Sinner more than his own mother as the pair compete to end 2025 as world No. 1. The sport's top-ranked players have met in six finals this season, but Alcaraz said in a joint-interview with Sinner he "never gets tired of seeing" the Italian. Another final between the pair at this week's ATP Finals would see the Spaniard finish the year as world No. 1.
'I’m seeing him more than my mum' - Sinner, Alcaraz discuss rivalry on CNN
Video credit: TNT Sports
Carlos Alcaraz joked that he sees more of Jannik Sinner than his own mother, with the pair having dominated the ATP Tour for the last two seasons.
Alcaraz and Sinner have split the last eight Grand Slam tournaments between them, facing each other in the final of the most recent three.
The game’s top-ranked players also met in the final of this season’s Italian Open, Cincinnati Open, and Six Kings Slam.
"I said in the summer, I’m seeing him more than my mum actually," Alcaraz told CNN, in a joint-interview with his rival. "I never get tired of seeing him".
Discussing their relationship, Sinner added: "When you practice together, see each other in the locker, then it’s natural that you get to know each other better and better.
"You talk about family and life in general, sharing also some personal stuff. I don’t think it’s changed. It has just become better because we know each other better."
Alcaraz echoed this sentiment, that despite their intense rivalry on the court, the dynamic between the two is "totally different" off the court.
"I think the word rivalry takes on the professional part, in the tennis side," the Spaniard said.
"We’re trying to find the weaknesses from each other on court, but then when we shake hands and we are off the court, we’re totally different.
"We sometimes forgot about the rivalry we were getting on tour, and we became people, and that’s what it means, the word rivalry."
The two players are currently competing at the ATP Finals in Turin, hoping to secure the end-of-year world No. 1 ranking.
Alcaraz overtook Sinner as world No. 1 after winning the US Open in September. The Italian went back to top spot after his Paris Masters triumph last week, but fell to No. 2 again when the rankings updated on Monday.
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'I’ll try not to think about it’ - Alcaraz on being one win from year-end world No.1 ranking
Video credit: SNTV
Alcaraz will secure the honour if he wins his final group game in Turin against Lorenzo Musetti or reaches the final of the tournament, having already beaten Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz.
Reflecting on his season, the current world No. 1 said: "I can’t hide the results. It’s my best year so far without a doubt in terms of level, in terms of consistency.
"I saw myself grow up a lot since last year to understand some situations, to realise what I have to do to get to know myself even more and what I need off the court.
"I think it is a general situation on and off the court which made this year my best."
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Sinner, meanwhile, will only end the year in top spot if he retains his title and if Alcaraz fails to win his final group game and then fails to reach the final.
Asked about the battle for the No. 1 spot, the Italian said: "There is for sure this extra motivation and some pressure, so it’s a privilege to be in this position.
"It’s something great to finish the year with a win and with an incredible big trophy, but you also don’t have to forget how the season went and everything we both have done for the last two years, and it has been again a great year."
Sinner started his ATP Finals with a straight-sets victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Monday and will return to action on Wednesday against Alexander Zverev.
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