Quote of the Day: Andre Agassi makes his Alcaraz-Sinner pick ahead of their Rome final

Andre Agassi knows a thing or two about rivalries, and the unique ways top players can bring out the best in each other. He’s thrilled to see the same pattern playing out between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who are set to meet in a dream final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The American great’s own career was highlighted by eight Grand Slam singles titles, and remembered just as much for his legendary battles with countryman Pete Sampras. During an appearance on Tennis Channel Live, Agassi broke down the rivalry currently defining the ATP Tour—and revealed the impressive “upside” that could make the difference for one player on the clay courts of the Foro Italico.

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“I think that’s a beautiful question for sports fans to ponder: Whose high end is really better?” he told analysts Steve Weissman and Jim Courier, speaking via video call from his Las Vegas home.

While he steered clear of the debate on who could ultimately win the most Grand Slams, the former world No. 1 said it’s clear that, right now, Sinner and Alcaraz are the only ones capable of pushing each other to new heights.

“You can only be measured by the best in the world, and when you’re No. 1 you’ve got to find ways to get better because there’s no one else you’re being compared to at the moment,” he explained.

On Sunday, the pair are set for their first matchup of the year and their 11th career meeting. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 6-4, having won all three of their most recent meetings in 2024. When playing on clay, the pair seem to be evenly matched on paper: After Sinner won in the final of Umag in 2021, Alcaraz evened the score during last year’s Roland Garros semifinal epic.

It’s almost like he’s a spaceship going against normal airplanes or something. Agassi on Alcaraz's affinity for natural surfaces

The difference, according to Agassi, could lie in the Spaniard’s affinity for the natural surfaces that neutralize Sinner’s firepower and movement. Alcaraz won back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles last year, and his winning percentage on clay (81%) and grass (89%) are north of 80 percent while the Italian sits at 69 and 68 percent, respectively.

“The one thing that really impresses me about (Alcaraz) is when I watch him on the slippery grass or the slippery clay, his speed diminishes less than the other fast guys,” Agassi said. “It’s almost like he’s a spaceship going against normal airplanes or something.

“When you watch those guys (like Tommy Paul and Alex de Minaur) move to grass courts or to clay, you can actually notice there’s a diminished confidence in their balance and their movement. They can’t do as much.”

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Alcaraz will be seeking his third title of the year, after winning in Monte Carlo and reaching the final in Barcelona in the lead up. Sinner, on the other hand, is playing in only his second tournament of the year after winning the Australian Open and sitting out the last three months as part of his doping case settlement with WADA.

“His balance is there, his strength is there, his ability to move forward on grass and cover drop shots, the athleticism,” Agassi said of Alcaraz. “He carries it all, and I think that’s a lot to do with the strength in his legs and the balance of his movement.

“When you start looking at these areas, like clay or grass, I give him (Alcaraz) a little bit of the edge—assuming he’s healthy and feeling good.”