Follow us on Google Discover Jannik Sinner thrashed Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam as the world number two set up a final date with Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner was clearly in a hurry, beating Djokovic comfortably in Saudi Arabia to set up another 2025 clash with the world number one.
Earlier, Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets, and so far at the Six Kings Slam, the matches have been largely pretty drab.
Sinner sent a message to Stefanos Tsitsipas after beating him on day one of the competition, and now, the final match looks set to be epic.
A lot of talk has been over Djokovic and whether he can still compete against Sinner and Alcaraz, with this defeat doing little to suggest that he can.
Photo by China Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty ImagesTennis told it now has a serious problem after Jannik Sinner win
Djokovic has been told what he needs to do by a number of experts, but with 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, it’s clear that he still knows what he’s doing.
There is a worry, however, that the gap between Sinner and Alcaraz and the other players on the ATP Tour is widening, and it’s vital that another genuine competitor for Grand Slam titles steps forward.
Djokovic recently gave his opinion on tennis and now Italian tennis legend Paolo Bertolucci has weighed in with his views on the current state of play at the top of the men’s rankings.
He told La Gazzetta: “Last night, the gap between the world’s number two and number three was starkly evident, Djokovic, while still an immense champion, is no longer able to keep up with the pace of Sinner or Alcaraz in long matches, the ones that truly matter. He admitted it himself: in five-set matches, he can no longer sustain that level of intensity. Yet, even in exhibitions, the difference was noticeable. Not due to any fault of his own, but because world tennis is currently experiencing an obvious void: behind the two dominators, there are no real challengers. This is the most serious problem, even more than the natural decline of veterans. When Sinner and Alcaraz play, they almost always reach the final; when they’re absent, the outcome becomes unpredictable, and this imbalance is a warning sign for the entire sport.
“It’s true that all sports go through cycles of exceptional talent, but in tennis, the generational gap has become enormous. Zverev and Medvedev now seem out of the race, Draper has lacked the necessary consistency, and the gap with Ruud is clear. Even Rune, who was supposed to be the third contender among the young players, has stalled.
“On the horizon, there are no figures ready to join the fight. Fonseca will need at least a couple of seasons; he must build himself physically and learn to handle the circuit’s demands. Until then, the Sinner-Alcaraz duopoly will continue to dominate without question, and it will likely do so for the next four or five years. When two phenomena emerge together, the gap with the rest of the field tends to widen.”
Bertolucci tells Sinner what he can still improve on
Bertolucci reached the quarterfinal of the French Open during his career, and these days is a pundit in his home country when tennis is broadcast.
He’s told Sinner where he can still hone his skills, although he doesn’t expect any major changes in the coming years from the player currently ranked number two in the world.
He said: “Many have asked me what’s changing in Sinner’s game. In reality, it’s not a process you can observe day by day. It’s an evolution that requires time, patience, and method. The foundation will always remain the same—power, precision, rhythm—but Jannik is working on details that can make a difference: the serve, the dropshot, the net game.
“However, he won’t become a radically different player. He will remain a “horizontal” player, a baseline player capable of constructing points and hitting consistently, with occasional forays to the net when needed. Those expecting him to change his skin don’t understand his nature: Sinner will evolve, but he will stay true to himself. Don’t expect him to suddenly go from being a right-back to a left-winger.”
Despite the fact that the Six Kings Slam is clearly an exhibition, there will be $6 million on offer for the winner of the final and that promises to throw up an intriguing affair.