"To beat Alcaraz and Sinner, you have to play perfectly and have them play a little bit off"

Carlos Navarro | 12 Dec 2025 | 13.20

Can Cerúndolo win against Sinner again? Source: Getty

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The ATP circuit is experiencing a moment where hierarchies seem quite established. Two young titans share the Grand Slams and establish a tyrannical dominance... while the rest of the tennis players, of course, seek to tighten the screw that allows them to compete regularly. Few have been able to compete head-to-head with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz with some frequency; even fewer have managed to achieve at least two victories against the Italian.

Fran Cerúndolo is one of those names, and we don't have to go back five years to find his triumphs. Just months before the great metamorphosis of the San Candido native began, back in May 2023, the Argentine defeated Jannik on his own turf, in Rome, in a fierce battle that extended to the third set and where he showed good signs of his ability to withstand the ball speed of the best.

Two years later, the albiceleste has faced the Italian on two occasions throughout 2025. The result? Four sets to zero for Sinner, showcasing his tremendous progression and his ability to maintain the pace at any event, regardless of venue or opponent. Perhaps there are few players more appropriate to talk about Jannik's devastating rhythm than Fran himself, someone who has experienced firsthand his tangible improvement and can provide a first-hand testimony about what he has specifically enhanced.

Cerúndolo tags Sinner as "almost unbeatable" in 2025 and offers a tremendous statement about his dominance and that of Alcaraz

In an interview with Tennis365, Fran didn't hold back and recalled his past encounters with Jannik. "In 2023, he was like #5 or #6 in the world. Now, he doesn't move from #1 or #2. It's very different. He has no weaknesses, no gaps. I faced him in Rome, in his first tournament back after the suspension, and had a little more time to think, to create something on the court. Then, I faced him in Paris, on indoor hard court, and he was unstoppable. He was playing well, but I lost 7-5 and 6-1. Honestly, you feel like you're playing well... and only win one game in the entire set", recalls the Argentine, detailing what makes Sinner so strong.

"He's always there. His serve is incredible, his return is sensational, and when played from the baseline, he hits the ball really hard, not allowing you time to react. In Paris, I didn't know what to do. He has improved immensely. Two years ago, maybe he wasn't as good physically: if you played long matches and long rallies, he made certain mistakes. Now, he doesn't miss anything", notes a Cerúndolo who admits to not having found the strategy yet to beat him again. "I have no idea, I couldn't beat him this year, I need to train and be ready for next year."

Finally, a statement from the Argentine that defines well the current state of the circuit and the huge gap that separates them from the two monsters. "To beat Sinner and Alcaraz, you have to play perfectly and hope they play slightly off". At that level, of course, much of the locker room is deeply immersed in trying to find the perfect formula in 2026. Will they succeed?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Para ganar a Alcaraz y Sinner, tienes que jugar perfecto y que ellos jueguen un poco mal"