Jannik Sinner is willing to rip up his playbook – and lose matches – in a bid to become less predictable after losing the US Open final and world number one spot to Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz was far too good for Sinner, winning 6-2 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, to secure his seventh win in his last eight matches against the Italian.
It was the third grand slam final of the season between the pair with Alcaraz emerging victorious in Paris and New York and Sinner claiming the crown at Wimbledon.
I did the same things – Sinner
Alcaraz’s game has evolved over the season and Sinner believes he now has to make changes if he wants to stay competitive.
He said: “I was very predictable today on court. He did many things, he changed up the game. That’s also his style of how he plays. Now it’s going to be on me if I want to make changes or not.
“That’s definitely [what] we are going to work on. I’m trying to be more prepared for the next match that I will play against him.
“It also depends on how you arrive to play against Carlos. One thing is when the scoreline [or] matches before are comfortable but you always do the same things, like I did, for example, during this tournament, I didn’t make one serve-volley, didn’t use a lot of drop shots, and then you arrive to a point where you play against Carlos where you have to go out of the comfort zone.
“So I’m going to aim to maybe even lose some matches from now on, but trying to do some changes, trying to be a bit more unpredictable as a player, because I think that’s what I have to do, trying to become a better tennis player. At the end of the day, that’s my main goal.”
Disappointing end to wonderful season in majors
It wasn’t the result he wanted but Sinner’s record across the majors this season gives him reason to be proud.
“Overall, the season result-wise, amazing,” Sinner added. “Four grand slam finals of the year. Two grand slams won, two times lost in the final, it’s incredible results, no? [I’m] very happy, and now we try to finish the year as strong as we can.”
The defeat saw Alcaraz supplant Sinner at the top of the rankings but he is looking forward to being the hunter rather than the hunted.
“Sometimes adding just something, and I think that’s going to be or that’s going to make a difference from my personal point of view that I can say that I’m going to become a better tennis player,” said Sinner.
“I’m going to change a couple of things on the serve, just small things, but they can make big differences. Then we see how it goes. I’m looking forward to playing these matches again. Something new is now I’m not No. 1 anymore, so it also changes a little bit that you chase.”
