Every time we lean Sinner, Alcaraz shuts us up” — Ex-Players Debate Their Pick Ahead of Blockbuster ATP Finals Showdown.NN
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are poised to face each other in the ATP Finals championship match on Sunday. Former tennis players Jack Sock, John Isner, and Sam Querrey have made their predictions for the upcoming final.
While Sinner is unbeaten in his last 14 matches, Alcaraz entered Turin following a second-round exit at the Paris Masters. This will be their sixth meeting this year, with Alcaraz leading the head-to-head 4–1.
Querrey, one of the co-hosts of the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, reflected on their previous predictions involving the two players. The American discussed the upcoming final with Jack Sock, John Isner, and Steve Johnson, noting that going against Alcaraz hasn’t worked for them this year.
“I feel like we keep doing this, like, well, every time they play this year, as a group, collectively, I feel like we kind of tend to lean Sinner and then, like, Alcaraz, like shuts us up,” Sam Querry said
Apart from a close victory in the Wimbledon final, Sinner hasn’t been able to ruffle Alcaraz’s feathers this year. The Spaniard has prevailed in their meetings at the French Open, Italian Open, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open.
Former World No. 8 Jack Sock also shared his insights for the upcoming final. He felt Sinner was a slight favorite to get the win, but remained hesitant to go all-out with the Italian.
“I think because of the indoor streak that he’s on, I think Sinner is like a slight favorite, but I have it at 50-50, to be honest,” Jack Sock said
“I don’t know why I have Sinner just like a little favorite. Well, it’s probably because he’s won 29 consecutive indoor matches. And he won Paris, and he won Vienna,” Sock and Querry discussed
Meanwhile, John Isner was sure about his prediction and felt Sinner would win the ATP Finals. He also debated with Steve Johnson and justified his call for the upcoming final.
“I had Sinner as a major favorite. Yeah, absolutely. Like, I think Sinner has a 75% chance! Absolutely,” John Isner said
“They have played once indoors, those guys. Back in 2021 and Alcaraz won that match,” Steve Johnson said
Hey, Stevie, I beat Sinner in 2021. I beat him in Cincinnati. You can’t compare a 2021 Sinner to this,” Isner added
“Yeah, and they were both, like, 14 years old at the time. Right?” Querry concluded
“We’re playing in front of his home crowd, so I would say he’s the favourite” – Carlos Alcaraz feels Jannik Sinner will have the edge in the ATP Finals showdown clash
Carlos Alcaraz received the Year-End No. 1 trophy in Turin this week. The Spaniard shared his thoughts after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinal.
“I mean, I’m the number one… and he’s playing the best on indoor court. We’re playing in front of his home crowd, so I would say he’s the favourite,” Carlos Alcaraz told reporters.
“I expect at least three or four people in the crowd cheering for me. Obviously, the people are going to be cheering for him but I will try to be really, really focused on my game and on the things that I have to do,” Carlos Alcaraz added
Alcaraz won their last indoor hard-court match at the 2021 Paris Masters. He will be eager to defeat Sinner again on Italian soil and capture the ATP Finals this year.
The duo will face each other at 6:00 p.m. local time in the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Check out the streaming details for the upcoming final here.
