Follow usJannik Sinner shared his thoughts on Roger Federer’s recent comments about the lack of variety in surface speeds on the ATP Tour, suggesting that hardcourts feel “very similar” across tournaments.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion recently argued that organizers are deliberately keeping surfaces uniform to maximize the chances of seeing Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz face off in finals. The pair have already met in six championship matches this year, five of them since May, including at three major events.
🇨🇭🎾 Roger Federer says tournament directors are purposefully slowing down the courts in an aim to produce Alcaraz-Sinner finals:
“I understand the tournament directors who, based on their instructions, try to make the courts slower.
“This benefits those who need to hit… pic.twitter.com/podIk2Jjjp
— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) September 22, 2025
“I understand the safety net that tournament directors see in making the surface slower,” Federer explained on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast. “For the weaker player he has to hit extra amazing shots to beat Sinner, whereas if it’s quick he can maybe blast a few at the right time and he gets past. That’s why the tournament directors are like, ‘Oh I kind of like to have Sinner and Alcaraz in the finals.’ It kind of works for the game.”
Federer suggested that tennis needs more diversity in playing conditions to truly test the new generation. “We need to have not only fast courts, but what we would want to see is Alcaraz or Sinner figure it out on lightning fast and then have the same match on super slow and see how that matches up,” he said.
Sinner, who has emerged as one half of the sport’s defining new rivalry, acknowledged the similarities across tournaments. “The hard courts, they are at times very similar. At times, there are some small changes, a couple of changes. One tournament that comes up a bit is Indian Wells because the ball bounces very high. It’s a bit different how the ball reacts with the court,” the Italian said.
“But yeah, if not, we have more or less similar game situations on the court. This is how it has been for a long time. I don’t know if there is going to be a change or not. I’m just a player who tries to adapt myself in the best possible way. I feel like I’m doing a good job in this. But let’s see what the future can give us in every tournament.”
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