<p>Carlos Alcaraz said he has no doubt that top-ranked Jannik Sinner is the best player in the world on current form as the two young players continue to lay the foundations for an epic rivalry.</p><p>Alcaraz, the 21-year-old world number three, won the French Open and Wimbledon titles last year, splitting the four Grand Slam tournaments with 23-year-old Sinner.</p><p>The Spaniard also improved his head-to-head record with the Italian to 6-4, beating Sinner three times in as many meetings.</p><p>Sinner, meanwhile, won 73 of his 79 matches last year including the US Open and the Australian Open, which he successfully defended at Melbourne Park last month.</p><p>"Jannik is the best right now," Alcaraz told reporters in Rotterdam on Sunday.</p><p>"He has lost only four or five matches in the past year, so it's crazy. I know people say who's better out of us. They say Jannik is better or some say me. It's all discussion.</p>.Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to win third grand slam.<p>"But for me, I think for a tennis player, we have to face Jannik and he's winning everything. He's focused every time, so I think he's the best. Every tournament he plays, he makes the final or lifts the trophy."</p><p>Alcaraz returns to action in Rotterdam after his quarter-final loss to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open ended his bid to become the youngest player to capture all four major titles.</p><p>"I don't feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak," added Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022.</p><p>"I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to, but Novak played an unbelievable match. Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing.</p><p>"It was a pretty good match. I've tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now."</p><p>Top seed Alcaraz begins his Rotterdam campaign against Dutch wild card Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat him in the second round at the US Open in August.</p>
<p>Carlos Alcaraz said he has no doubt that top-ranked Jannik Sinner is the best player in the world on current form as the two young players continue to lay the foundations for an epic rivalry.</p><p>Alcaraz, the 21-year-old world number three, won the French Open and Wimbledon titles last year, splitting the four Grand Slam tournaments with 23-year-old Sinner.</p><p>The Spaniard also improved his head-to-head record with the Italian to 6-4, beating Sinner three times in as many meetings.</p><p>Sinner, meanwhile, won 73 of his 79 matches last year including the US Open and the Australian Open, which he successfully defended at Melbourne Park last month.</p><p>"Jannik is the best right now," Alcaraz told reporters in Rotterdam on Sunday.</p><p>"He has lost only four or five matches in the past year, so it's crazy. I know people say who's better out of us. They say Jannik is better or some say me. It's all discussion.</p>.Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to win third grand slam.<p>"But for me, I think for a tennis player, we have to face Jannik and he's winning everything. He's focused every time, so I think he's the best. Every tournament he plays, he makes the final or lifts the trophy."</p><p>Alcaraz returns to action in Rotterdam after his quarter-final loss to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open ended his bid to become the youngest player to capture all four major titles.</p><p>"I don't feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak," added Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022.</p><p>"I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to, but Novak played an unbelievable match. Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing.</p><p>"It was a pretty good match. I've tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now."</p><p>Top seed Alcaraz begins his Rotterdam campaign against Dutch wild card Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat him in the second round at the US Open in August.</p>