"Our previous matches have been great fun" - Carlos Alcaraz looks forward to facing biggest rival Jannik Sinner in Indian Wells SF

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will face off for the first time this year in the semifinals of Indian Wells 2023. The fierce competitors are gearing up for a fifth overall contest in their blossoming rivalry.

On Friday (March 17), Alcaraz took to social media to express his excitement about adding another chapter to his young rivalry with Sinner.

“Can't wait to play Jannik tomorrow!” he wrote.

The teenager remarked that irrespective of the results, their encounters thus far have been “great fun” for them and fans alike.

“No matter who won, I think our previous matches have been great fun for the fans, and also for us!” he added.

The youngsters are the two most talked-about next gen players and their rivalry has drawn comparisons to that of the Big-3. Despite their growing competition, however, the Spaniard and the Italian have maintained a respectful equation on and off the court.

Alcaraz has previously acknowledged that his rivalry with Sinner is similar to that of the Big-3 in the sense that the two youngsters are pushing each other to be better players just like the veterans did.

"I am going to push myself to be a better player to try to beat him. I think it is going to be the same for him as well, I will push him to be a better player as Djokovic, Rafa, and Federer did when they were younger," Alcarz said in 2022.

"I think its gonna be a great rivalry! We are great friends outside the court," he added.

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A brief look at Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s rivalry ahead of their Indian Wells meeting

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s four tour level encounters thus far have been nothing short of sensational. The duo’s first encounter was in Round of 32 at the 2021 Paris Masters. The tight contest went in favor of the former World No. 1, with the scoreline reading 7-6 (1), 7-5.

In 2022, the Spaniard and the Italian clashed three times. Sinner claimed two back-to-back scalps against Carlos Alcaraz – first in the fourth round of Wimbledon 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3, followed by a comeback in the final of the Croatia Open 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-1.

However, their most recent battle in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open was closed out by eventual tournament champion Alcaraz (6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3). The high-octane five-setter went down in the history books as the latest finish in US Open history, concluding at 02:50 am local time after five hours and 15 minutes.

With their match outcomes leveled at 2-2 in favor of each player, the upcoming Indian Wells semifinal clash will be crucial for the Spaniard and the Italian as the winner will gain an important lead in their rivalry.