Carlos Alcaraz is ready for Jannik Sinner to continue to evolve his game after the Spaniard won the latest instalment of their rivalry at the US Open.
The Spaniard produced a four set win over Sinner to claim the US Open glory as he and the Italian split the Grand Slams for this year.
Their rivalry has transcended the sport and it will continue to do so as the Italian is aiming to make his game more unpredictable ahead of next year.
However, Alcaraz is keen to stay one step ahead of Sinner and is expecting more changes from the Italian over the next few months, “I know he’s going to change,” Alcaraz said to the ATP website.
“He is going to change something from the last match. It’s the same thing that I did when I lost to him a couple of times. I tried to be a better player. Next time I’m going to face him so I expect him to do the same thing to change a few things just to be ready and I have to be focused and I have to be ready for the changes.
“I will try to overcome those changes [and] be ready for that rivalry. I think it’s getting better for me and for tennis. We will see in the future how many times I’m going to play against him and in which circumstances we would play. But I think right now it’s going great.”
The next challenge for the pair will be to chase the year-end world number one ranking with Alcaraz in pole position having claimed the ranking at the US Open.
However, Alcaraz insists that is not on his mind as he looks to finish the season strong, “It’s something that’s not in my mind right now,” Alcaraz stated in Tokyo.
“I always say that my goal in tennis is to try to be at the same table as the legends or the best players in history, but it’s not something that I’m thinking about right now. I’ve achieved great things already in just 22 years. I already know that but I don’t know in the future how many things or how many tournaments I’m going to achieve. So I think it’s something that I have to take care of every day about the details about everything practising well and we will see in the future.
“I think nobody knows the future. So what I’m thinking right now is to do the good things that I’ve been doing, following the good path. I’m trying to be the best player and the best person I can be every day. That’s all I’m thinking right now.”
As Sinner is in Beijing, Alcaraz has decided for a change in schedule and is making his Tokyo debut this week.
Now Alcaraz looks to add to the players that have won Tokyo which includes Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, “I know it is a great tournament. I know the players who have played this tournament before and the players who have won this tournament before,” Alcaraz acknowledged.
“I just really wanted to come here, play great tennis, perform well and try to win the trophy. That’s why I’m here just to feel great on court, giving myself the chance to win the trophy to win the tournament.
“At the end of the week I just really want to put my name next to the past champions that I know it’s an honor to be next to, to those names as well.”
The world number will begin his campaign against Sebastian Baez in the opening round.
