Boris Becker issues verdict on Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz debate at Wimbledon
Tennis legend Boris Becker has identified a difference between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz that he feels could prove decisive in a potential Wimbledon 2024 showdown.
The six-time Grand Slam champion assessed that while Alcaraz is “close to perfection”, the Spaniard is “a bit inconsistent” compared to Sinner.
Sinner and Alcaraz could face off in a blockbuster semi-final matchup at Wimbledon on Friday if they both win their quarter-final contests.
World No 1 Sinner will take on fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the last eight, while No 3 seed Alcaraz play face 12th seed Tommy Paul.
Sinner holds a 5-6 record against Medvedev, but has won the pair’s last five encounters, whereas the head-to-head between Alcaraz and Paul is split at 2-2.
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Alcaraz has won five of the nine matches he has played against Sinner, including the last two, in the pair’s fascinating rivalry to date. Sinner prevailed in four sets when the duo met in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2022.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Becker hailed Sinner’s form this year and explained why he gives the 22-year-old the edge over Alcaraz.
“I think Sinner is on the right track,” said the German. “He has been playing at a very high level for months now, and his greatest quality is consistency. If we focus on the last period, he hasn’t played a ‘bad match’ yet, touching wood.
“On the one hand, you can’t always win, but on the other, he always has a very high level, more than anyone else since the beginning of the year. So to surpass him, you have to do even better and that’s why this year he has only lost a couple of matches.
“We all have weaknesses, even Alcaraz! Jokes aside, on the court he is close to perfection, but sometimes he is a bit inconsistent in form, while Sinner is more consistent.
“When you see a match by Jannik today, you know exactly what to expect, not with Carlos. At the moment, the Italian is mentally solid and this shows on the court.”
The former world No 1 also argued that Sinner’s hard-fought second round victory over compatriot and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini sharpened him for the tournament.
“There is the eternal debate about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ draws, to me, as a player and then as a coach, it has always seemed like a sterile discussion, it is the player who makes the draw a good draw,” Becker added.
“Personally, I have always preferred to start with tougher opponents, because it prepared me mentally for the second week. I think Sinner’s victory over Berrettini has fully projected him into the tournament.
“The match between Sinner and Berrettini was a real match of excellent tennis. I was pleased to see Matteo finally competitive, but I had no major concerns about Jannik: he is confident like few others on the circuit at the moment.”
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