The results of 2024 have led many fans and insiders to wonder if Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz can ‘replace’ two legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The rivalry between the Swiss and Spanish entered the hearts of fans immediately, before Novak Djokovic broke into this scenario and ‘broke’ almost all records.
Despite being still very young, Jannik and Carlitos have already shown that they possess the right qualities to enter into the history of this sport and bring tennis to a new dimension. The Italian ace won two Grand Slam titles and three Masters 1000 in 2024 and has already reached former Swedish champion Mats Wilander in the all-time ranking of weeks at the top of the ATP ranking.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing 2023© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard – on the other hand – has already put four major titles in his bulletin, becoming the youngest ever to win the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships in the same season. In the palmarés of Carlitos, there are also five Masters 1000 and a stay of 36 weeks at the top of the ranking.
The clashes between Sinner and Alcaraz always give fans a lot of show and the speed of the rallies electrifies even the professionals, who have made several comparisons in recent weeks (especially after the matches in Beijing and Saudi Arabia). Almost all experts agree that Alcaraz has a more varied and complete game, but no one is able to match the consistency of Sinner over the course of a season. It is by no means a coincidence that – although they won two Grand Slam titles each in 2024 – Jannik has a very wide lead in the ATP Race.
Big 3’s successors
During an interview with ‘Tennis Majors’, French veteran Richard Gasquet talked about the new two kings of men’s tennis: “Alcaraz is no mean feat. When I see him play, when I see his attitude, his level of play, it’s crazy. I tell myself that this player will be a new Federer and Nadal, I have no doubts.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner is playing very well too. He’s a big player and there are more to come. They’re going to be the two best players in the world over the next fifteen years. They have an incredible level, they play very fast, they’re raising the level of tennis even further. Djokovic is still around more or less, but we’re going to be seeing a lot more of both of them. There are a lot of people in the stands and tennis will continue to be like that for the next 15 years. These two are going to raise the level of the sport.”
A contrast of styles
The Italian and the Spaniard have shared all 4 rounds of the 2024 Grand Slam and their rivalry seems to be currently characterizing the next years of tennis. In an exclusive interview with Tennis365, among the various topics discussed, well-known French coach Patrick Mouratoglou has made the point on the rivalry and differences that exist between the Spanish tennis player and the Italian player.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
“Alcaraz and Sinner are by far the best two right now and Carlos can do anything. Everything he does – says Mouratoglou – he does it perfectly. The right is incredible, the reverse then. I see no weak point in that backhand. He can play flat, slice, his drop shots are amazing, his net play is incredible, he can do serve and volley, serves incredibly well for a guy of his height and physically he’s a beast. If you look at the package, he is incredible, he almost always has too many choices and sometimes can lose his way, he is super aggressive and for this makes many more unforced errors than Sinner”.
To define the current World No.1, Mouratoglou uses this term: “He is a machine. He does less than Alcaraz and is currently trying to add new weapons to his game. He’s not as good as Carlos in many things, but what he does is incredible. Catch the ball early as he does, hit it with incredible force, with so much confidence because he doesn’t make a mistake and the movement is amazing, it’s crazy.
That’s why in direct clashes they are very close: because every time Carlos drops a little, Sinner is always at the same level, from start to finish”. They hit the strongest ball of the Big 3? “Maybe it’s possible, I wouldn’t call them that. Alcaraz and Sinner are much more than just hitting the ball hard. Tennis is fortunate to have two new heroes ready to take the sport into a new era of play”.