Sinner and Alcaraz, surprise ‘double’ in flight: the photo

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were first opponents and then traveling companions. The Italian and the Spaniard, protagonists of the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, got on a plane after the match to fly to Shanghai, where the Masters 1000 has already begun.

Sinner and Alcaraz left the capital together and reached Shanghai on a private flight, as documented by the photo published on Instagram by Simone Vagnozzi, coach of the Italian team. Relaxed faces and smiles in both groups: Alcaraz celebrates the triumph with Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sinner relaxes with Vagnozzi and with the new team members, the physiotherapist Ulises Badio and the athletic trainer Marco Panichi.

The photo, if anything were necessary, highlights the excellent relationships between the two athletes, also consolidated by the players’ statements after today’s final: mutual praise and words of esteem in view of the next challenge. An important certificate especially for Sinner, who in recent days has received demonstrations of support from colleagues – from Novak Djokovic to Daniil Medvedev – while he has to live with the appeal presented by Wada for the doping case linked to the accidental intake of Clostebol.

The two big names will make their debut in Shanghai in the second round. Matches in the first round of the tournament are scheduled between today and tomorrow. Sinner and Alcaraz are in the same half of the draw, in the top half, and could meet in the semi-finals. The world number debuts against the Japanese Taro Daniel, while Alcaraz finds the Chinese Juncheng Shang.