ATP Finals are underway, and many expected Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to lead their respective pack. While Sinner is on the way to do so, Alcaraz has already suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Casper Ruud. The persistent cold and blocked nose might have contributed to the Spaniard’s loss. However, this might not be the only reason for Alcaraz’s loss. Despite being hailed as the best combination of the Big 3 trio, Alcaraz is probably “not quite mature as Roger Federer,” according to the renowned journalist Steve Weissman and others.

Last year after losing the Wimbledon championships to Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic praised the then-20-year-old. He said, “I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about his game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically the best of all three worlds.” However, something seems to be a miss in Alcaraz’s game, according to Paul Annacone, Jim Courier, and (host) Steve Weissman, as they discussed the ATP Finals on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast on November 13th.

Currently, Alcaraz and Sinner are the top two players in the circuit. What is the difference in their approaches? According to the analysis on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, Alcaraz lacks consistency and has a few ups and downs. They said, “He can get the first strike in. Alcaraz’s is absolutely electrifying, but he’s almost in his analogous situation would be not quite mature as Roger Federer. He’s going to miss a little more.”

However, when it comes to Sinner, “Sinner’s more reliable. He’s more steady.” They went on to compare the Italian star with the GOAT, Novak Djokovic. Though they further praised Alcaraz for his creativity, they added, “He’ll come in, he’ll stay back, he’ll do different things, but he’ll be a little bit more vulnerable. Sinner won’t be that vulnerable.” However, Alcaraz certainly outweighs Sinner. “Sinner stays at 10. Alcaraz’s can go to 11,”-they remarked. 

Rightly so, despite facing a doping scandal amidst the tournaments, Sinner didn’t waver in his commitment to tennis and on the court. The Italian remained steadfast, as he won both the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Moreover, he is going strong at the ATP Finals. When it comes to Alcaraz, the Spaniard’s season has been full of ups and downs. While there were a few big hits as he claimed the Roland Garros and Wimbledon Championships, there were a few big misses too in the form of the Cincinnati Open, and the US Open, among other tournaments.

Though he regained his form during the Asian swing, Alcaraz’s health issues have made it difficult for him to leverage that at the ATP finals. How could things ultimately fare for Alcaraz at the ATP Finals?

Carlos Alcaraz struggles to gain his footing at the ATP  Finals due to cold and blocked nose

Who would have thought that after having an exciting season, Carlos Alcaraz might end it on a sad note? Right before the start of ATP Finals, Alcaraz was spotted with tissues in his hands in the training sessions, as he uncongested and wiped his nose. Furthermore, concerns were heightened when he was spotted with a fuchsia-colored strip on his nose. However, shutting all the speculation about his health with a grim update, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero shared update on his health status and about his participation in the tournament.

Ferrero said, “As soon as he moves a bit, he finds it hard to breathe. He has tightness in his chest. A bad time to fall ill. We can’t predict whether he will play tomorrow or not. We’ve all played under these circumstances. I don’t think it will get to the point of not playing, but it will be difficult for him to be at 100% tomorrow.”

Despite losing his opening match to Casper Ruud, Alcaraz remains steadfast in participating further. However, it would not be an easy journey for the Spanish sensation, as Andrey Rublev awaits him in his 2nd round-robin match. All wishes and luck to Carlos Alcaraz