Patrick McEnroe on Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner: Why Carlos steals the spotlight
Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Carlos Alcaraz holds more popularity than Jannik Sinner, according to former doubles Grand Slam champion Patrick McEnroe. Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, marking their first meeting of the 2026 season. That result saw Sinner replace Alcaraz as world number one, ending the Spaniard’s 22-week run at the top of the ATP rankings.
Even though Sinner is currently ranked No. 1, McEnroe believes that Alcaraz remains more popular among fans. Patrick McEnroe feels Carlos Alcaraz is still more popular than Jannik Sinner The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has become one of tennis’ most compelling storylines, with both players pushing each other to new heights this season.
The two have met three times already in 2026, including a memorable semi-final clash at Roland Garros where Sinner won en route to his maiden French Open title. This adds to their growing history and head-to-head matchups over recent seasons. When asked about who is currently more popular between them during an episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” McEnroe didn’t hesitate.
McEnroe went on to elaborate further, highlighting why he thinks people connect with him beyond just his talent on court. The two have a combined nine Grand Slam singles titles between them already – four for Sinner and five for Carlos – at just 24 and 23 years old, respectively. With plenty more left ahead in their careers, too, there will surely be even bigger battles coming soon enough, both on court and off it in terms of fan support around the globe, too!
Patrick McEnroe: ‘Alcaraz is like a showman, a Broadway star and an incredible athlete’ Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images McEnroe gave his thoughts on both players during an appearance on the Spout Podcast but had particularly high praise for Alcaraz, comparing him to a blend of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. The former French Open doubles champion also likened Alcaraz to a Broadway star, saying that his personality and style make him more appealing than Sinner, who he described as having a similar demeanor to Bjorn Borg. “Well Alcaraz you’ve got to put at the top of the list, now he’s got considerably more majors than Sinner,” said McEnroe.
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