Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz privileged? Another colleague speaks out

Alexander Zverev had claimed in a press conference during the Australian Open that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed privileges during tournaments-a theory later endorsed by Taylor Fritz, who explained how some players have top priority and availability of choice on schedules over their opponents.

The’former U.S. tennis player Mackenzie McDonald in an interview with Claytenis had this to say: “I think there is a little bit’of exaggeration, but also a little bit’of truth. I firmly believe that the players at the top are exceptional, both as athletes and as people, so we are very lucky right now”.

“‘Protected’ maybe not the right word, but their opinions definitely carry more weight when making decisions. It is part of the sport we play. There’s some truth, but also some’exaggeration in what Zverev said”, explained the American tennis player.

Luca Franzosi

Zverev, meanwhile, achieved a historic milestone in Indian Wells by becoming the fifth tennis player in history – after Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray – to reach the semifinals in all nine Masters 1000 events. An achievement the German called “very special” and one that testifies to how he, too, is part of the world tennis elite, net of his statements about alleged protections at the top of the rankings.

The German ahead of the confrontation with the Blue in Indian Wells confided his feelings: “I think we have played pretty close matches. The last ones were also very balanced, except the one in Paris where I was injured. In the last two years he has been one of the two best players in the world. He and Carlos have won all the Slams and the big tournaments. Obviously it’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”

For his part, Sinner made it to the semifinals with a nearly flawless run, conceding just three games overall to Dalibor Svrcina and Learner Tien, and five to Denis Shapovalov. The’only moment of difficulty came in the round of 16 against Brazilian Joao Fonseca, where the Italian had to nullify three set points in the tie-break of the first partial before prevailing in two sets