Jannik Sinner’s honest confession after Carlos Alcaraz defeat as he discusses hip injury

Jannik Sinner offered up no excuses after his hopes of capping his rise to world No 1 with a first appearance in a French Open final were dashed by Carlos Alcaraz.

The 21-year-old Alcaraz won 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard-court, grass and the clay of Paris.

Italian Sinner, 22, struggled with cramp during the third set and when he was asked to sum up why he was affected so early into the match, he admitted the tension of the occasion may have contributed.

“For sure, some tension. Tension and after cramp a little bit,” said Sinner. “I handled these situations a little bit better now. I had previous years these kind of moments where I couldn’t handle them.

“If we watch that, I handled them a little bit better. It was quite early in the match. We didn’t play so much, so I was not worried about my body. Was keeping up quite well.

“I think it was a great match. For sure the sets he won he played better in the important points, no? I think that was the key.

“Obviously disappointed how it ended, but, you know, it’s part of my growing and the process. Thinking back, before the tournament reached this point, I’m obviously very happy. In the other way, I’m disappointed about the match today.

“Now I’m just looking forward to improving, trying to do the best I can, and then we see what I can do in the future here in this tournament. If we watch the positive side, I have improved from last year, for sure.

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“There is another chance to play here for the Olympics. Then we see how it goes.”

Sinner went on to suggest he is enjoying his rivalry with Alcaraz and he is already looking forward to their next meeting.

“If we watch the results, we always or most likely play against in the semis or final or quarters, very important matches,” he continued.

“I think that’s exciting for the game, especially when head-to-head is quite close,” Sinner said. “And the winner is happy and then the loser tries to find a way to beat him the next time. I think that’s exciting. That’s what I will try to do.

“I think we study each other very well. You can see a little bit of tension sometimes of both players and both sides just because we know each other slowly a little bit better.

“Each time when we play, we expect a couple of things and then to mix up the plan, you make different choices sometimes on the court. I think next time obviously is going to be different.”

When asked whether his hip injury was a factor, he insisted he was pleased with how his body reacted over the course of the French Open.

“The hip was okay. You know, the more the match goes on, the right hip doesn’t have the strength of the left hip,” he stated.

“Sometimes I feel it a little bit, especially after two-and-a-half hours and until the four hours, but this is no excuse.

“I was moving good. I was feeling quite good on the court. So I’m not any more worried about the hip. Just disappointed about how it went today. Just have to accept it.”

For Sinner, it was a first defeat in 13 Grand Slam matches, having won the Australian Open in January, and he admitted it will be hard to watch the final.

“I mean, I always like to watch tennis, yes,” he added. “Let’s see, if I have time for sure I’m going to watch a little bit.

“But in the other way, it’s always tough to watch, especially when you’re in the semis, it hurts, because you know that you could be there and it’s a different feeling.”