Jannik Sinner has been questioned over recent comments made by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
Sinner last played a tennis match in the US Open final, where he lost both his title defence and world number one ranking to Carlos Alcaraz.
During his time away from the matchcourt, Federer commented on Sinner and Alcaraz’s dominance at the Laver Cup.
Now Sinner has returned to the ATP Tour at the China Open, where he was given the opportunity to respond to these remarks.
Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty ImagesJannik Sinner responds to Roger Federer’s recent claims about himself and Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner and Alcaraz have already played six Grand Slam finals this year, including at the last three major tournaments.
One of these finals was at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz beat Sinner in one of the best matches of all time according to many.
During a recent live episode of the ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘ podcast in San Francisco, Federer suggested that tournaments are slowing the surfaces down to increase the chances of having more Sinner and Alcaraz finals.
“I understand the safety net that the tournament directors see in making the surface slower,” said Federer. “It’s for the weaker player – he has to hit extra amazing shots to beat Sinner, whereas if it’s quick, he can only maybe blast a few and, at the right time… and he gets past.
“So that’s what the tournament directors are [thinking], like: ‘I kind of like Sinner-Alcaraz in the finals, you know? It kind of works for the game’.”
These comments split opinion, and now in his pre-tournament press conference at the China Open, Sinner has been asked about whether he would be in favour of tournaments changing court speeds.
Sinner made reference to the different surfaces, but admitted that other than Indian Wells the hard courts are often very similar.
“Yeah, I feel like we have three big changes, which is hard court, clay and grass, which has always been like this,” answered Sinner.
“The hard courts, they are at times very similar. At times there are some small changes, couple of changes. One tournament that comes up a bit is Indian Wells because the ball bounces very high. It’s a bit different how the ball reacts with the court.
“But yeah, if not, we have more or less similar game situations on the court, yes. This is how it is already since a long time, like this. I don’t know if there is going to be a change or not.
“I’m just a player who tries to adapt myself in the best possible way. I feel like I’m doing a good job in this. But let’s see what the future can give us in every tournament.”
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesWhen could Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz next play in a final?
The last tournament that both Sinner and Alcaraz played where they did not meet in the final was at the Australian Open.
Despite both players now being in Asia, they will not be able to go head-to-head for at least a week, as they are at different tournaments.
Sinner is competing at the China Open in Beijing, while Alcaraz is competing at the Japan Open in Tokyo for the first time in his career.
The next tournament that both players are set to play this year is the Shanghai Masters, where Novak Djokovic has also confirmed his attendance.
Some of the other events where they could play in the final this year include the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals, which Alcaraz has suggested he will play after missing Spain’s most recent qualifier.
However, Sinner will currently have his focus set on the China Open, where he is a former champion and faces a tough opener against former US Open champion Marin Cilic.