Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the two players hoping to take tennis into a brand new era.
The two stars have stepped up in the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with the Big Three replaced by these two juggernauts.
Alcaraz praised Sinner after beating him in the US Open final on Sunday, with the 22-year-old collecting a sixth Grand Slam crown.
There is a problem emerging involving Alcaraz and Sinner, with the fact that they seem to keep meeting in finals, largely making the games somewhat underwhelming.
However, Sinner will undoubtedly find solutions to try and win more matches against Alcaraz and the future of men’s tennis does feel bright.
After Sunday’s final, some comments from Sinner back in 2021 after the pair had met for the first time on the ATP Tour, perhaps take on some extra significance.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesWhat Jannik Sinner said after playing Carlos Alcaraz for the first time
Although the two players had met at a junior event in 2019, the pair’s first outing against each other was at the ATP 1000 event in Paris in 2021.
Alcaraz ran out a 7-6, 7-5 winner against Sinner, who was ninth in the world rankings at that point.
Sinner was told where he must improve after losing to Alcaraz on Sunday, and back in 2021, it was suggested by the Italian that the Spaniard had really caught his eye.
He said in his post-match press conference: “Well, I hope it’s the case, because I think we both are different players, but one thing we have in common is that we work very, very hard.
“I think from his side and from my side as well, we both are humble, and we have a great team. I mean, yes, I hope so, but I think he’s not focusing on what the press is saying, and I don’t focus on that.
“We both are quite focused on what we have to do, trying to improve, and, yeah, I think that’s it, to be honest.
“Today was not my day, but I hope we can play some more matches. I knew that he was going to be top already when I played him in 2019 on the clay in the Challenger Tour, because these kinds of players you feel that they have something special, for sure.
“I think we don’t talk anymore about the age, because how complete he is, this is incredible. Yeah, that’s it.”
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head
It’s fair to say that Sinner has some work to do if he’s to start pinching more Grand Slam titles away from Alcaraz.
Feliciano Lopez shared what Alcaraz did that really upset Sinner in Sunday’s final, and the world number two has some work to do.
YearWinnerEventRound2021Carlos AlcarazATP Masters 1000 – ParisL322022Jannik SinnerWimbledonL162022Jannik SinnerUmagF2022Carlos AlcarazUS OpenQF2023Carlos AlcarazIndian WellsSF2023Jannik SinnerATP 1000 – MiamiSF2023Jannik SinnerBeijingSF2024Carlos AlcarazIndian WellsSF2024Carlos AlcarazRoland GarrosSF2024Carlos AlcarazBeijingF2025Carlos AlcarazATP 1000 – RomeF2025Carlos AlcarazRoland GarrosF2025Jannik SinnerWimbledonF2025Carlos AlcarazATP 1000 – CincinnatiF2025Carlos AlcarazUS OpenFCarlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head
Sinner currently trails the head-to-head by 10 matches to five against Alcaraz and he needs to find a way to get more victories over the newly crowned world number one.
This rivalry will continue for many years, however, and with no third player emerging to challenge their monopoly on the Grand Slams, Sinner will get ample opportunity to pull closer to Alcaraz.