MELBOURNE: Todd Woodbridge has rejected Pat Cash’s claim that a new ‘big two’ era is bad for men’s tennis.
Australian great Cash expressed concern that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s dominance had become “unhealthy” with the European stars winning the last eight grand slams between them.
Sinner has won the last two Australian Open titles and Alcaraz is at short odds to join him in the final at Rod Laver Arena.
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“There’s a pretty good chance we’re going to see four finals in a row of Alcaraz and Sinner,” Woodbridge said on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily with Chris Stubbs.
“And I promise you that, probably, most tennis fans would love to see that… it’s my preference. I’d love to see that here.
“I want to see it in all of those majors.”
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Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates a point against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada. Getty
Even at age 38, with his legendary powers fading, Novak Djokovic remains the third favourite with the bookmakers.
And while disagreeing with Cash’s assertion, Woodbridge admitted that Sinner, 24, and Alcaraz, 22, could do with some younger players snapping at their heels.
“You need people to be able to push them,” he said.
“Because they’ve raised it to a level – even Roger Federer in a press conference here – said the level that they’ve brought, so quickly at their age, he didn’t really think that that would happen right now.
“So it’s that next one coming through that is maybe able to do that. Joao Fonseca is the one I see being able to, but he comes in with a little bit of a cloud over his head, with injury.
“So he’s maybe not ready to do that here and now, but he is one that will be thrown into that mix.”
Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates winning match point against Andrey Rublev. Getty
Alex de Minaur will again fly the flag for Australia but Woodbridge fears for the 26-year-old’s chances after analysing his draw.
“The match up doesn’t look that great,” the doubles champion said.
“Draw could have been better. He obviously had (Matteo) Berrettini in the opening round, who unfortunately had to withdraw. That gives him an opportunity to get a couple of matches before maybe a (Alexander) Bublik and then a Carlos.
“It could have been better, but you know what, if you are going to do what he said and be a disruptor, then it’s best to probably take out a Carlos in a quarter than have to play him when he’s another round or two deeper.”