Jannik Sinner has done plenty to impress this season. He defended his Australian Open crown, then lifted his very first Wimbledon title. The Italian has every reason to hold his head high. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. His rival, Carlos Alcaraz, has been right there in almost every final. And at the US Open, Alcaraz struck again. He took down Sinner not just for the title but also grabbed the No. 1 crown. In the end, all Jannik could say was, “I was very predictable today on court.” The admission surprised many, but a few insiders seemed to know exactly why.

Iga Swiatek’s coach, Wim Fisette, is one of those analysts speaking up about Sinner’s US Open setback. He explained why it’s crucial for a top player to keep opponents guessing. “As a tennis player, you can’t become predictable. You have to evolve, otherwise your opponents will get used to your game and know what to expect,” he told Polish media Sport, pointing directly to that Alcaraz-Sinner showdown in New York.

“After his last match against Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner admitted: ‘Yes, I was too predictable. I have to enrich my game.’ And that’s the whole point, especially at the highest level. Everyone is looking for ways to improve. So are we. If you want to stay at the top, you have to add something to your tennis every year.” The message was clear. And for Sinner, the Italian knew exactly what went wrong.

Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, walked away with the crown on September 7. He outlasted Sinner in four sets to capture his second US Open title. The 24-year-old Italian fought hard, but after 2 hours and 42 minutes on Arthur Ashe, the Spaniard was the one celebrating. Alcaraz’s run in New York looked almost effortless—he dropped only one set in the entire tournament. A 21-to-1 set record? That’s dominance stamped all over it.

The win paid off in more ways than one. Along with his sixth Grand Slam trophy, the Spaniard reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. The very position he had lost over a year ago. Every player dreams of sitting at the top, and now it’s back in his hands. For Alcaraz, this summer was a comeback tour that ended with fireworks. Sinner, though, refused to wallow. In the post-match press room, he was brutally honest about his own game. “I’m going to aim to maybe even lose some matches from now on, but trying to do some changes, trying to be a bit more unpredictable as a player,” he said. It’s a positive outlook.

And the 24 year old has proven before that he can bounce back in style. Remember when he avenged his Roland Garros loss by saving three championship points, then followed it up by snatching away Carlos’s Wimbledon crown? This rivalry has plenty more chapters to come. And Fisette isn’t the only one raving about Sinner’s game.

Rafael Nadal’s uncle makes an honest remark about Jannik Sinner’s form

Sinner’s blunt “predictable” verdict against Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t pulled from thin air. On September 11, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and first coach made it clear in a column for El Pais: “Jannik found himself completely overwhelmed by the intensity, variety, and quality of his opponent’s shots.” How does he know? Because Sinner himself said it best in his post-match chat: “At the moment, Carlos is a different competitor from all the others, that he has no weaknesses, and that he, for his part, will have to make changes, even if he has to lose a few matches, to become a slightly more unpredictable player.”

Not to mention, the numbers back that story up. Tennis Insights tracked their year-long duel on X by zooming in on shot variation—mixing topspin, slices, drop shots, angles, and net play keeps opponents guessing. Yet, Sinner leaned heavily on core shots, firing 88.3% of them over the past year. His forehand cross-court, usually on point at 80.6% accuracy and winning 48% of points, slipped to 75.4% and just 40.6% against Alcaraz. Clearly, Carlos’s unpredictable game dismantled Sinner’s rhythm.

Toni Nadal weighed in with his take: “If it is true that the transalpine player possesses extraordinary solidity and power, it is also true that he will have to make an effort to surprise Carlos, the only player who, at the moment, knows how to do everything. And do everything well.” The pressure’s on Sinner to evolve if he wants to stay relevant.

With the Asian Swing looming, this rivalry is only heating up. They’ve met 15 times, with Alcaraz leading 10-5, including three Slam finals where Carlos holds a 2-1 edge. Alcaraz sits at No.1, and Sinner vows to shake things up. Will he be unpredictable enough to dethrone Carlos? The drama is far from over—jump in and share your thoughts!