Why is Sinner Winning Everything Yet Alcaraz Beats Him?

Epigraph: “Tennis is not about defense anymore. 90 percent of the time they’re {Sinner & Alcaraz} only playing offense.” — Sasha Zverev Imagining what it’s like trying to hit through Jannik Sinner. Original photo and artwork ©jfawcette. As I write this, Jannik Sinner is on an amazing winning streak. (Except vs WADA where he settled for a three-month suspension that brings him back by Rome before Roland Garros). Sinner joined Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Pete Sampras as the only four men to win a major, aka ‘Slam, final without facing a single, solitary break point. The Italian Carota has won 16 straight matches culminating in defending his Australian Open title, and 36 of his last 37 all on hard courts. But his lone defeat came vs his putative archrival Carlos Alcaraz. The even younger Spaniard leads their head-to-head 6-4, winning the last 3 in a row. One explanation for Jannik’s preeminence is that he’s simply better at everything. Jannik’s latest victim, AO finalist Sasha Zverev and world number two ranked player said, “There are 5 or 6 major factors in tennis. I’m better than Sinner at serving, he’s better than me at all the rest.’ Former world number one…