Carlos Alcaraz says Sunshine Double doesn't matter as much as Miami loss

Carlos Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Miami Open on Friday and thus failed to defend his title from last year. If Alcaraz had won Miami, it would've made him the youngest player in history to complete the Sunshine Double i.e. winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.

However, the Spaniard stated after the match that his disappointment at losing an important match was much more than that at missing out on the Sunshine Double.

Going for his 11th straight tour-level win, Alcaraz lost 7-6(4), 4-6, 2-6 to Sinner in yet another thrilling contest between the two explosive players. The match, which lasted for a little over three hours, saw the 10th-seeded Italian hit 27 winners and break Alcaraz six times, compared to 22 winners and three break points from the defending champion.

Earlier this month, Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final of the BNP Paribas Open to lift his third Masters title. Had the 19-year-old gone on to win the 2023 Miami Open, he would have been the first since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double.

Alcaraz will also lose his No. 1 ranking to Novak Djokovic on Monday (April 3). In his post-match press conference, the reigning US Open champion was asked if he was disappointed at relinquishing the top spot and the chance to be only the 12th player to achieve the Sunshine Double. Alcaraz responded, however, that the semifinal loss was all that mattered to him.

"For me, it's like I lost the semifinal. I don't think about I lost the No. 1 or the Sunshine Double. I don't think about it," Alcaraz said. "Of course, it's a shame, I had the opportunity to get the Sunshine Double. But I think I'm going to have more years to try to get it."

"But all I can think about is like how to improve my level to beat Jannik. Yeah, for me it's just a lost semifinal of a tournament," he added.

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Carlos Alcaraz feels there's something "different" about the crowd when he faces Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner (L) and Carlos Alcaraz

The rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is one of the most exciting on tour right now, with both players winning three matches so far. After his 2023 Miami Open loss, Alcaraz admitted to experiencing a different energy from the spectators whenever he faced Sinner.

"I feel something different about the crowd when I play against Jannik," Carlos Alcaraz said. "I think around the world, probably all the people are watching this match because I think it's really beautiful to watch. It was an incredible crowd. I felt the energy, the love from the people when I was down. For me, it's unbelievable to have this kind of feeling, this kind of support. It's indescribable."

The Spaniard had two break points at 4-3 in the second set, before Sinner won 19 of the next 21 points to force a decider.