Carlos Alcaraz recently featured in a photoshoot for Vanity Fair ahead of the clay season, but the project has sparked debate after several journalists compared him to Jannik Sinner. The comparison hasn’t gone down well with fans, many of whom have openly expressed their frustration online.
Alcaraz is currently sidelined with a wrist injury sustained during the Barcelona Open, forcing him to miss both the Italian Open and the upcoming French Open. In its feature, Vanity Fair described the Spaniard as a “sex symbol” and revealed that the shoot took place just a day before his opening match at the Miami Open earlier this year.
During a discussion on the Tennis Weekly Podcast, journalists Joel Girling, Kim, and Chris Kneebone suggested that the photoshoot might have been better suited to Sinner.
“The Vanity Fair photo shoot featuring Carlos Alcaraz, you know, we know Alcaraz is injured. He’s not got, he’s not, you know, got nothing better to do than pose for some interesting pictures rolling around in the clay. And I don’t know what to make of it, really. Um, it’s got to be something though. It’s past time, isn’t it?” Kim said.
“Some of the shots are quite, um, getting attention are quite bum-heavy, I think would be the only way I could describe it.
So I think he’s making headlines off court. I think, um, it’s expanding the profile, yes, of certain body parts of his,” Kneebone added.“I think he’s painfully trying to beat Jannik Sinner. I think Jannik Sinner does this stuff way more elegantly,” Girling joined in.
Fans have now taken to X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustration over the Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner comparison, with one user writing:
“Alcaraz shoot was taken by an Ethan James Green (look it up, major deal) These photos went way more viral than Sinner’s Gucci ads. Tennis needs a little sex and trust me look at the impressions, they hit. Alcaraz isn’t trying to be a fashion star, he’s cultivating his own brand.”
“Your homophobia and lack of taste is showing. The man especislly sounds like he’s scared to just talk about it as if he actually looked at it,” another wrote.
“What a ridiculously stupid interview. You know, there’s no need to always compare the two of them or put one of them down. They can both be great tennis players and they can both be great models off the court. You guys are morons,” one user posted.
“This Alcaraz photoshoot was better than anything from Sinner by far. It actually generated headlines! And lots of them! Sinner’s shoots were about fashion, so they obviously have more of a “high fashion” aspect. I feel like yall may need to stick to what happens on the court lol,” another tweeted.
“What f-g assholes, boring, bloodless carrot grimacing in bad angles where he doesnt know how to really exude charisma in the photos like great male models do, compared to absolutely gorgeous, moviestar -sultry the Cutest. C is so beautiful in these clay pics,” another user commented.
“Leaving this here as an example of everything that’s wrong with tennis media. Miserable, churlish, factually inaccurate and embarrassing. This is just hate content for engagement,” another joined in.
Jannik Sinner Prepares For French Open As Carlos Alcaraz Remains Absent
Jannik Sinner will head into the French Open as the overwhelming favourite for the men’s title, drawing comparisons to the dominance once displayed by Rafael Nadal in his prime. With a Career Grand Slam now firmly within reach, the Italian finds himself in a commanding position, especially with his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, ruled out due to injury after their dramatic final in Paris last year.
Sinner now has the opportunity to become just the ninth man in history to win all four major titles, following in the footsteps of Alcaraz, who completed the set at the Australian Open earlier this season. The World No. 1 arrives in Paris in red-hot form, having secured back-to-back titles at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, making him the clear player to beat on clay.
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