#tennis-rivalry

#tennis-rivalry

Amid the endless flood of Instagram photo dumps and gushy captions from social media users around the world saluting another year gone by, Carlos Alcaraz's efforts were particularly interesting. The candid photos chosen by Alcaraz from his camera roll included dozens of friends and family, various barbecues and his many haircuts throughout the year, but there was no room at all for one notable individual: Juan Carlos Ferrero.

When we started here, last Sunday afternoon, it was impossible to conceive of a final that didn't pit Carlos Alcaraz against Jannik Sinner every competition both have entered this year, one has won, and between them they've taken eight grand slam titles in a row, contesting the last three finals. They are wonderful, they are inevitable, and they are despite their affirming amity and meritorious menschlichkeit vicious, remorseless killers.