A Alcaraz-Sinner final showdown on three different surfaces in the same year, a first since Federer-Djokovic in 2015

Alcaraz and Sinner will face off this Monday in the final of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, their 13th duel since the start of their respective careers.

But that’s not all—it will also be their fourth final together this year, and what’s more, on a third different surface.

The two players have already met in the finals of Rome and Roland-Garros (clay) and then in the Wimbledon final (grass). With Cincinnati (outdoor hardcourt), the world No. 1 and his closest rival will continue their head-to-head battles and, in doing so, join several of tennis’ greatest rivalries, such as Federer-Djokovic, Nadal-Djokovic, or Federer-Nadal.

Indeed, since 1990, only three pairs have met in finals on three different surfaces. First, Federer-Nadal in 2006, then Nadal-Djokovic in 2011, and finally Federer-Djokovic in 2015. Now it’s the turn of the new generation, led by these two men, to extend this statistic.