Sinner opens up about his relationship with Alcaraz and the support of the Spanish public

Iker Jiménez | 28 Apr 2026 | 14.06

Sinner opens up about his relationship with Alcaraz and the support of the Spanish public. Source: getty

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Jannik Sinner continues to script a season that is starting to border on the historic. The Italian convincingly defeated Cameron Norrie to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open 2026 and extend his winning streak to 20 consecutive victories in Masters 1000 tournaments this year. A feat previously only accomplished by Novak Djokovic.

The world number one is aiming for his fourth Masters 1000 title in 2026 in Madrid, which would also mark his fifth consecutive title in this category, a historic record. A potential showdown against Rafa Jódar looms on the horizon, promising to be one of the tournament's highlights. In a press conference, Sinner analyzed his current form and discussed his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz, the scheduling in Madrid, and the rise of the new generations.

Sinner reveals how he feels about the support from the Spanish fans

“I have a very good relationship with Carlos, and I think that also helps me gain support here. It's mutual. When he plays in Italy, he also receives a lot of affection. Obviously, if we play against local players, the crowd will support their own, but we know it's not personal. Our rivalry is very healthy on and off the court. When we shake hands, it's as if nothing happened. I believe people perceive that, and it's good for the sport.”

Winning Streak

“I know how difficult it is to win matches, so achieving 20 in a row is something special. But at the same time, I don't dwell on it too much. Every day, you face a different opponent and you just try to be better than them on that day. Conditions change, schedules, opponents... today, for example, my opponent was left-handed, and you have to make adjustments. I don't think about the streak; I just try to position myself as best as possible to win as many matches as I can. Mentally, you have to be prepared every day for a tough battle.”

Criticism of Schedules

“I heard comments about me playing at 11 and Jódar at 16, and I think it was a good decision. It's complicated to schedule two matches starting after 20:00 because you can't expect them to last only an hour and a half. Playing at 23:00 and finishing at 1:00 or later is too much. The logical thing today was for me to play earlier because he needed more rest. But I adapt to any schedule. Still, I believe the planning can be improved because finishing so late affects the body and mind: press conferences, recovery, dinner... you end up going to bed at 4 or 5, and it disrupts your day.”

Possible Showdown Against Jódar

“I watched his entire match against Fonseca. It was of a very high level. And I have a feeling that it won't be the only time we face each other. He has a lot of talent. It would be interesting to play against him before big tournaments like Rome or Roland Garros. He is very well adapted to these conditions in Madrid, but it would also be useful for me to draw conclusions. He is a very exciting player with a lot of potential.”

Mental Management of Matches

“I know that every day can be challenging. Today, for instance, I had difficulties in the second set. The conditions here are fast, and anyone can put you in trouble. I try to stay calm and not take anything for granted. You can win or lose at any moment, especially when you are a bit tired. Maintaining a high mental level throughout the match is not easy, but I try.”

Raising the Level

“The tournament is now entering a crucial phase, and we always try to raise the level round by round. I believe I can still improve a bit. It's harder to control here due to the conditions, but I know that I have to elevate my game if I want to go far. I try to manage my energy well. To reach another Masters 1000 quarterfinal is positive, especially because I didn't play here last year, so these are extra points.”

It Will Be Difficult to Beat Him If He Continues Like This

“I hope so. In the end, the ranking is just a number, but there's a reason behind it. To beat the best, you have to play very well. But we are human; we can all have a bad day. The important thing is always to give 100%. You can't control the rest. I try to maintain a very high and solid level, adapting to the opponent. And then we'll see what happens.”

Visiting India

“I don't remember promising that. I know there's a 250 tournament there, I'm not sure if it's still ongoing. It's nice to see how tennis is growing in India. You have great players, and I hope more continue to emerge in the future. I don't know if I'll be able to go, but I would love to. It's a part of the world I haven't visited, and I would like to someday. I have a good relationship with Indian players, and in the past, there have been great names from there. There was even a young player who trained at the same center as me. My favorite dish is butter chicken; I really like that.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner se sincera sobre su relación con Alcaraz y el apoyo del público español