“I love this kind of challenge, to have a really difficult battle against (Sinner). The previous matches that we’ve played I think it was like that, and I love that,” Alcaraz said.

“I love to find solutions, to find a way to beat him the way that I did in Indian Wells. For example, that 6-1 in the first set, and then I found a way to make him in trouble.”

That match, on a slow hard court in the Californian desert in March, was the last time they met. On clay, the scales are again potentially tipped in Alcaraz favour, given Sinner’s relationship with the surface.

However, as a winner of 33 of his 35 matches this season, and confirmation he will rise to world No.1, the young Italian’s confidence could not be higher.

“(Clay is) a very physical surface, and you play more tennis. Sometimes on hard court you hit fast for couple of balls and then it’s over, or if you serve good, it’s over. On this surface, there are some more key moments you have to understand,” said Sinner, who like Alcaraz has dropped just one set this fortnight.

“Every player struggles a little bit more on certain surfaces. Let’s see what is coming, no?

“I think it’s good to realise that you struggle a little bit. You have to understand yourself.”

Given both Sinner and Alcaraz entered Roland Garros this year under injury clouds, the fact this meeting has materialised feels extra special.

We await to see what unfolds in Paris on Thursday.