The blossoming rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner appears to have gone up another level, with reports suggesting that they were not only battling on the court during the US Open, but also off it.
The pair went head-to-head in a third successive Grand Slam final last week as they faced off at Flushing Meadows in what turned out to be another epic affair between the two young greats of the sport.
Alcaraz, 22, put in a near-faultless display to take down Sinner in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, dethroning him as world No1 in the process. It was his sixth Grand Slam title, a second in New York, and he has won a mammoth sum of five million dollars to go with the silverware.
It was the third Grand Slam final that both Alcaraz and Sinner had contested in a row, after the Spaniard produced a historic comeback to win the French Open in May, while Sinner romped to the Wimbledon title in July.
Following the victory, in was revealed that the Spanish tennis superstar is dating Sports Illustrated model Brooks Nader, who had been previously romantically linked to Sinner.
However, it is now believed, in a turn of events reminiscent of Challengers, that Nader was dating both of the men’s US Open finalists at the very same time, according to Page Six.
Jannik Sinner (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (right) appear to have taken their rivalry off the court
The pair are said to have dated model Brooks Nader (pictured) at the same time during the US Open
The model previously shut down suggestions that she was dating Sinner on Jimmy Kimmel’s famous late-night talk show, after her sister, Grace Ann, sparked speculation that the pair are seeing each other by revealing that an athlete whose name ‘rhymes with winner’ had DM’d her.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s inner circle downplayed talk of a romance between him and Nader, after rumours began to swirl following Sunday’s showpiece at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Grace Ann had previously confirmed to E! News that Nader and Alcaraz had been seeing each other, saying at the Raising Cane’s New York Fashion Week Show that ‘the rumours are true.’
‘Dating is such a loose term. But I do know he’s the man of the hour,’ Grace Ann said of her sibling and Alcaraz.
Nader, who had front-row seats to watch Alcaraz beat Arthur Rinderknech en route to the final, is single after her breakup with Gleb Savchenko in April of this year. The pair met on the show Dancing with the Stars.
However, journalist Alberto Guzman – citing information from Alcaraz’s inner circle – has said on Spanish TV show ‘No Somos Nadie’ that she is not dating the Spanish star.
‘They’re not dating, it’s not an official relationship,’ he said, via 20 Minutos.
Guzman added: ‘He [Alcaraz] confirmed to those close to him that he is single and has no intention of having any serious relationships. Perhaps she is not well informed.’
Alcaraz, 22, had previously been romantically linked to doubles partner Emma Raducanu
In recent months, Alcaraz has been linked romantically to British tennis star Emma Raducanu, with their partnership in last month’s US Open mixed doubles tournament fueling those rumors even further.
When quizzed on the rumours back in June, Raducanu smiled while saying: ‘We’re just good friends.’
The interview moderator then cut off further questions, prompting her to laugh and remark: ‘Way to wrap up!’
