Jannik Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, heaped praise on Carlos Alcaraz for his sportsmanship and the positive energy he displayed on the court. Cahill expressed that Sinner’s team holds nothing but admiration for the talented Spaniard.

Sinner and Alcaraz faced off in a thrilling final at the ATP Finals, where the Italian star spectacularly defeated his rival to claim his second consecutive title. Coming into the tournament fresh off his Paris Masters triumph, Sinner had reclaimed the No. 1 ranking. Meanwhile, Alcaraz was just shy of regaining the top spot but secured it by defeating Lorenzo Musetti during the ATP Finals group stage.

Despite falling to Sinner in the finals, Alcaraz earned praise from Darren Cahill for spreading smiles and exhibiting exceptional sportsmanship throughout the match. Cahill revealed that he had sent a congratulatory message to Alcaraz after he achieved the World No. 1 ranking.

“Carlos has been incredible in 2025 and certainly the years before. I sent him a congratulations note a couple nights ago when he secured No. 1. He’s an incredible young man. He actually gave us a couple of smiles during the match. Jannik hit a backhand down the line at one point, and he looked over to us with a big smile. It is a pretty rare athlete and competitor that does that. We have nothing but admiration for Carlos,” Cahill shared.

Throughout the year, Alcaraz and Sinner have met multiple times on the court, always battling it out in finals. Both have won two Grand Slams apiece this year: Alcaraz claimed titles at the French Open and the US Open, while Sinner triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

The rivalry between the two is marked not only by their dominance on the court but also by the mutual respect and camaraderie they share off it. They consistently acknowledge each other’s strengths, highlighting their integrity as competitors.

After reclaiming the No. 1 ranking, Alcaraz admitted that Sinner was the favorite heading into the ATP Finals, especially given his strong form on indoor courts and the support of his home crowd in Turin.

“Who is the favorite? I mean, the No. 1 means that I’ve been playing really good during the whole season, on all surfaces. He’s playing the best on indoor court. We’re playing in front of his home crowd. I would say he’s the favorite. Don’t want to believe it, but I would say he’s the favorite for tomorrow, I guess,” Alcaraz said during a post-match press conference.

With multiple Grand Slam titles between them, Alcaraz holds a slight edge in total majors, having won two Roland Garros, two Wimbledon, and two US Open titles, compared to Sinner’s two Grand Slam victories.

This ongoing rivalry promises to deliver more exciting tennis and memorable moments as both players continue to push each other to new heights.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-jannik-sinner-s-coach-darren-cahill-reveals-rare-gesture-carlos-alcaraz-made-towards-italian-s-box-atp-finals-clash