Adriano Panatta Backs Alcaraz Over Sinner When at Full Strength
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Panatta stated: “When Alcaraz plays at 100%, he beats Sinner because he has a few more inventive moves. But tennis isn’t just about peak performances: on average, Jannik is superior.
“I say: Alcaraz’s forehand, Sinner’s backhand, Sinner’s serve today, Alcaraz’s volley and drop shot, Alcaraz’s movements.
“But in Monte Carlo, on clay, Sinner won. It’s hard to make any predictions against those two: when you do, you risk being immediately proven wrong.”
“Alcaraz reminds me of Lew Hoad, who some consider the best ever: on a good day, he was unbeatable.”
Panatta Praises Sinner’s Commitment to Improvement
There’s no question that Alcaraz vs Sinner is the sport’s top rivalry at the moment, with the Spaniard holding a narrow edge.
Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 10-7, although Sinner won their most recent clash in the Monte Carlo Masters final.
Digging deeper into their differences, Panatta remarked: “Carlos struck me when he said that, without [Juan Carlos] Ferrero, he can finally make decisions.
“He clearly suffered from it. He traded the risk of a few more defeats for freedom. I’m like him.”
“But calling Sinner a mechanic is unfair. I admire his desire to improve: every day, he dedicates himself to filling the gaps.”
“It’s rare, believe me: usually, you practice the things you already know how to do well. Not Jannik.”
Sinner’s steady rise isn’t just down to his physical skills. His drive to get better has played a big part in his ascent to World No. 1.
Sinner heads into Rome as one of the clear favorites, and given what we’ve seen over the last couple of years, there is little reason to doubt him.
The focus then shifts quickly to Roland Garros after Rome wraps up. The field opens up this year with Alcaraz missing out through injury.
Last year’s final was an absolute thriller, with Alcaraz beating Sinner in five sets after nearly five and a half hours on court—a match many called their most exciting yet.