Fans buzzing about Friday’s Alcaraz vs Sinner blockbuster

Tennis fans have been blessed with eight editions of the rivalry since 2021 (they are deadlocked at 4-4), including two at the Grand Slams (tied at 1-1). But the pair have never met in a Grand Slam semi-final before, nor have they locked horns on the fabled clay of Roland-Garros. 

On Friday in Paris, that will change. The pair will contest their second clay-court meeting with a spot in Sunday’s final on the line, and fans are already brimming with enthusiasm about the next edition of this game-changing rivalry. 

Who is going to win and why?

On Thursday morning, we took a stroll around the grounds to ask fans two questions: Who is going to win, and why? 

“At the moment I think it’s Sinner,” says a young Parisian ballkid we ran into outside Court No.9. “He’s already reached No.1 in the world, he’s in full confidence – and I like the game of Sinner better, he makes better use of his wrist with his forehand.” 

Nice technical analysis from a young aspirant… 

Another ballkid saunters up and takes the other side, though with less scientific reasoning.

“For me it’s Alcaraz,” he says. 

Pourquoi? I ask. 

“Because he is ready, and in my opinion he has prepared well to win, and yes he’s my favourite player,” he adds, before racing off to his next assignment. 

Fans may be divided, but most of them agree that it’s easy to like both players – even if they are polar opposites, and big rivals. 

Beth from north of London says she's “gutted” that she has to fly home on Friday morning, thus missing the match. But she weighs in nevertheless. 

“I think it’s quite exciting, really, but I am pro Alcaraz I have to say,” she says. “But Sinner’s crept in there. He’s crept up, he’s done really well. So it’s going to be a terrific match – tomorrow’s match is going to be the best of the tournament."

Even though she has to head home, Beth hopes she can see the pair meet in the final at Wimbledon this year. 

“I’m going there too,” she says, hopefully. 

I will go with Carlos

We next found Adrian, decked out in a snazzy Nadal t-shirt, taking photos with a cardboard cutout of the 14-time champion. He was on his way over to see the statue of Rafa but stopped to give us his thoughts on tomorrow’s showdown. 

“I was a fan of Rafa since I was a kid, but now, of course, I am supporting Carlitos,” he said, before confessing: “It’s not the same as with Rafa. If Carlos and Rafa were facing each other I’d have to go with Rafa, but of course tomorrow I will go with Carlos.” 

Asked to put on his analyst hat, Adrian didn’t hesitate (a common theme around the grounds): 

“I think he can win even if Sinner is now No.1 on the ATP Tour,” he said. “Even if he has not won Roland-Garros yet, it’s easier for Carlos to play on clay than it is for Sinner. His forehand has more topspin than Sinner - Jannik plays more flat.”

Joe from the UK, in Paris to celebrate his birthday, feels an affinity with Alcaraz as well. 

“I hope Alcaraz wins,” he said. “He’s not your average guy, he’s out of the box, he’s his own person and he’s a bit like me. He’s fearless, he just goes for it.” 

Right then. 

Another fan – Adam from Massachusetts – also believes that Carlitos’ time is now. Here’s how he sees it: 

“I’m gonna go with Carlitos,” he said. “I think especially after last year, with the battle against Djokovic (in the semi-finals), he’s up for it. I think with Jannik, with confidence coming off the Australian Open title, it will be very close – I just like Carlos a little bit more.”

Funny and witty

But Sinner has his backers as well. 

Nicola, a Toronto-born traveller of the world, sipping champagne with two friends outside Chatrier, says Sinner’s her man. 

“He’s the redhead, right?” she says with a smile that leads me to believe she is playing with me. “I like Sinner, not for his tennis, but I like his interviews, I think he is funny and witty.”  

We all have our own reasons.

The importance and excitement of Friday’s clash between these two rising talents is summed up well by Joanne, a journalism professor at Michigan State University. 

“They are both great guys, they like each other, and they bring out the best in each other on court,” she says, a flock of journalism students trailing behind her in the shadows of Court Philippe-Chatrier. 

La vie Parisienne… 

“I think there are a lot of great emerging stars, and having two guys who have great personalities and are great people off the court, but also amazing on the court, it really carries on the legacy of Roger and Rafa, of good guys in the community who are also doing great things in tennis,” Joanne adds. 

No bad outcome

You never know who you might meet around the grounds at Roland-Garros. And you might be surprised by how much they know. 

I finish my tour with Francoise and Serge, a Parisian couple who are taking photos of their faces superimposed on the Nadal cutout, just like Adrian from Madrid was doing moments ago. 

They give me their take in their native tongue: 

“I would like to say Sinner, because I love Sinner,” says Francoise, adding: “It’s only a preference.” 

Serge is less sure of his allegiance, but equally excited about the prospects of Alcaraz and Sinner’s first ever battle on the fabled clay of Roland-Garros. 

“It’s difficult to predict, but why not a surprise, with Sinner?” he says. “But Alcaraz, he is sturdy and in good health, he is getting stronger with each match."

No matter who wins – fans are just happy to be here in Paris to revel in the excitement. Years from now, they can say: I saw it at Roland-Garros, and I’ll never forget it.