Carlos Alcaraz has shared about his relationship with Jannik Sinner, after the moment the two world’s top tennis players were on the same flight went viral on social media.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played out a dramatic final, with the Spaniard eventually winning after a three-hour battle. It was a great match, but both players had to rush to Shanghai as the tournament there started the same day as their final in Beijing.

As the seeds of the tournament, both were exempted from the first round, but arriving early was still a big advantage, so they were arranged a separate flight to quickly get to Shanghai.

On that flight, they took a photo together, with both Alcaraz and Sinner appearing to be in a good mood. Many were curious about what happened on the flight, and upon arriving in Shanghai, the Spaniard shared what happened.

“We don’t talk much when we’re together, obviously. We have a very good relationship off the court. I think we both have a lot of respect for each other, as players, as people. But when we’re on tour, in tournaments, when we’re with our teams, we don’t talk too much.”

It’s no big surprise that they didn’t talk much, as neither Alcaraz nor Sinner are particularly talkative, at least not outside of the team. However, after the final, they probably both wanted to relax and perhaps discussed their group with their teams in Shanghai.

It was a big event, the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, with a lot of points to be won, so perhaps both of them had shifted their mental focus from the China Open final to that tournament. When asked what they talked about during their conversation, the 21-year-old revealed that it was a mixture of many things, including tennis.

“When we get a chance, we talk a little bit outside of tennis, about life, but not a lot. We have a good relationship, but we’re not best friends, but I think the mutual respect puts us in a position where we have a very good relationship.”

This is a rivalry that many expect to dominate tennis for years to come, and it is encouraging that they have such a good relationship. While bitter rivalries can be fascinating, a foundation of respect will ensure that this rivalry remains healthy for years to come.