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Defector

Kathryn Xu

Italy's Jannik Sinner holds the trophy after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament.

Tennis

Who Will Beat Jannik Sinner?

Giri Nathan

Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and finalist Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the trophy ceremony of the Men's Final on day 8 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026, an ATP Masters 1000 at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2026 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Swap Places On The Mountaintop

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

A radar board at a tennis tournament showing a 149 mph serve

Men’s Tennis Is, Once Again, Too Fast

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States during their match on Day 6 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Getting Tired Of Facing So Many Roger Federers

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates on the court after winning the Australian Open.

A Pure Tennis Boy

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain acknowledges fans with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after the presentation ceremony following the Men's Singles Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day 15 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Has Conquered All Terrain

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with his trophy next to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Carlos Alcaraz Splits With His Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses with his trophy after winning the men's singles final tennis match against Italy's Jannik Sinner

The Tour Is Theirs

David Roth

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates a point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 08, 2025 in Paris, France.

Podcasts

A Forehand That Sounds Like Construction Equipment, With Giri Nathan

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Interviews

Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain embrace at the net after the Gentlemen's Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 13th, 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner Recalibrated And Got Back Into His Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz

Patrick Redford

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Italy's Jannik Sinner on day 15 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2025.

Carlos Alcaraz Wins The Match Of A Lifetime

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo with his trophy alongside his team following victory against Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Men's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2025 at Foro Italico on May 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy.

Carlos Alcaraz Keeps Smiling At Jannik Sinner’s Expense

The Australian Open Is Happy And Hot

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet at the net after their Australian Open match.

Novak Djokovic Teaches Carlos Alcaraz One More Crucial Lesson

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot in the Men's singles final match against Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day 10 of the China Open

Carlos Alcaraz Is Most Dangerous When He’s Cornered

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts after a point against Botic van De Zandschulp of the Netherlands during their Men's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Out

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 04: Gold medallist Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia celebrates during the Tennis Men's Singles medal ceremony after the Tennis Men's Singles Gold medal match on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic Finally Adds Olympic Gold To His Hoard

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to play a backhand volley against Daniil Medvedev in the Men's Singles Semi-Final match during day twelve of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Wings Week

A Bird’s-Eye View Of Tennis’s Post-Wimbledon Landscape

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain kisses the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following victory against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the Gentlemen's Singles Final during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Eating Well At The Big Table

Daniil Medvedev hits a shot between his legs

Daniil Medvedev Stole Some Of Jannik Sinner’s Glory

No One Knows How To Beat Carlos Alcaraz In Five Sets

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 2: Corentin Moutet of France in action during Day 8 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

The Defector Tennis Desk Bids Adieu To The French Open

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning match point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Men's Singles Final match on Day 15 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Diamonds Under Pressure

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain serves against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men's Singles Semi-Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)