The tactic Roger Federer says organisers use to help Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – ‘It works for tennis’

Roger Federer believes that tournament directors slowing down courts have given Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner a helping hand.

Each of those finals – particularly at Roland-Garros – were blockbuster, highly entertaining matches between two players who have quickly set themselves apart from the rest.

And 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer has suggested tournament directors use a specific tactic which could benefit Alcaraz and Sinner.

“It’s for the weaker player – he has to hit extra amazing shots to beat Sinner, whereas if it’s quick, he can only maybe blast a few and, at the right time… and he gets past.

“So that’s what the tournament directors are (thinking), like: ‘I kind of like Sinner-Alcaraz in the finals, you know? It kind of works for the game’.”

He added: “I just had this conversation this morning with Reilly Opelka. I told him, ‘it’s not okay. I fault myself (for the Laver Cup court speed).

“Because I was part of the decision-making of the court surface speed here, but it can’t be that he’s kick serving on the AD-side indoors against Casper Ruud.

“Casper Ruud actually can go back, even has that option indoors to go return Reilly’s serve, which is arguably one of the best serves in the game right now, and he returns it from hip height and just hits a cross-court passing shot winner on break point. I feel like it should be a little bit more difficult to be able to do that.

“We, the tournament directors, need to fix it. What we would like to see is have Alcaraz and Sinner figure it out on lightning-fast (courts), and have the same match on super slow (courts) and see how that matches up.

“That’s how the ranking points used to be. Back in the day, only 12 tournaments counted, so everybody would play on their favourite surface, and then they would sometimes meet. And those were the best matches, when you had the attacker against the retriever.

“Now everybody plays similar because the tournament directors have allowed the ball speed and court speed that every week is basically the same.

“That’s why you go from winning French, Wimbledon, US Open and just play the same way.”

He admitted his excitement at the involvement of Alcaraz in the 2025 edition, with the Spaniard part of Team Europe.

“I’m obviously incredibly pumped up that Carlos is here,” Federer said. “After him winning the US Open, it’s amazing for the people here in San Francisco to see him.

“It means a lot because if you’re a tournament organiser, anyone can pull out last minute – there’s no guarantees. So that he’s here and he’s excited, and the whole team is here, it’s big.”

Two wins from Alcaraz were not enough for Team Europe, who came up just short against Team World.

The world No. 1 – who had previously lost unexpectedly to Taylor Fritz – delivered two superb performances on the final day of action, teaming up with Casper Ruud to deliver a much-needed doubles victory against Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka 7-6(4) 6-1, before beating Francisco Cerundolo 6-2 6-1 in the singles.