Alcaraz acknowledges he must be '10 out of 10' to beat Sinner ahead of Roland-Garros defence

Carlos Alcaraz conceded it will be "impossible to beat" Jannik Sinner if the Spaniard does not produce his best against the world number one.

Alcaraz has won each of his last four meetings with Sinner, including a straight-sets victory in last weekend's Italian Open final to halt his opponent's 26-match winning streak.

The Spaniard also prevailed in an epic five-set French Open semi-final last year on his way to winning the most recent of his four major titles.

The two players will be in separate halves of the draw at Roland-Garros, where Alcaraz will begin the defence of his crown this weekend, meaning they could meet in the final on June 8.

The world number two is fresh from claiming his third silverware of the season in Rome, and has won 15 of his 16 matches on clay this term, but remains wary of Sinner's threat.

Alcaraz acknowledges the Italian brings out the best in him, though he feels it is too early for their rivalry to be compared to one of the most iconic in tennis history.

Buenas noches!pic.twitter.com/zFKTS3kfqs
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) May 18, 2025

"He's the best player in the world. It doesn't matter that he was out of the tour for three months," the 22-year-old said of Sinner.

"Every tournament he's playing, he plays great. The numbers are there. He wins almost every match he plays.

"If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him. That's why I'm more focused when I'm playing against him, or I feel a little bit different when I'm going to face him than other players.

"He has that aura. When you're seeing him on the other side of the net, it's different.

"I'm not going to say I'm feeling like when Rafa [Nadal] and Roger [Federer] are playing, but I'm feeling like it's a different energy when we are facing against each other."