Federer Blames Slow Courts; Sinner Loses No.1

Roger Federer urged tournament directors to introduce more variety in court speeds, arguing that the modern tour’s generally slow, uniform hard courts benefit dominant players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and reduce stylistic diversity. He warned slower surfaces make it harder for lower-ranked players to produce upsets and suggested some organisers may favour conditions that increase the likelihood of marquee Sinner–Alcaraz finals. Sinner, speaking ahead of the China Open in Beijing, said he is making small tactical tweaks after losing the U.S. Open final and the world No.1 ranking to Alcaraz. He acknowledged those changes have raised his error count in practice but expects to test them against Marin Čilić in Beijing. Federer mixed critique with camaraderie at the Laver Cup, including a light-hearted Rolex moment with Alcaraz, underscoring the trio’s prominence in men’s tennis.