Tennis could have a new Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal-style rivalry
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will fight for future Grand Slams in a new rivalry like Federer against Nadal, a former Wimbledon champion has claimed. The Italian claimed his first Major title at the Australian Open at the age of 22. And the world No.4 was immediately congratulated on social media by his friend and double Grand Slam winner Alcaraz – the only other man under 25 to have won a Major.
Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal enjoyed a decade-long battle at the top of the rankings until Novak Djokovic overtook them both. And the Serb, who turns 37 in May, insisted he still has the drive to add to his male record haul of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
But the future is the next generation with Alcaraz only 20. And Aussie legend Lleyton Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002, said: “I think this is going to be one of the great rivalries moving forward, the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry. Potentially like the Roger-Rafa one we saw for so many years as well. And it’s intriguing. Both game styles are slightly different, their upbringings are different as well, so I’m really excited. I think tennis needs these new guys coming through.”
The two-time Major champion added: “There’s been plenty of talk about Sinner for three or four years, that he’s a possible Grand Slam champion and world No.1 but Alcaraz came out of nowhere and really took that from him. I think that really spurred Jannik on to try and find a way to be able to win these titles.”
Asked if Sinner had been spurred on by Alcaraz, the Italian’s coach Darren Cahill said: “Hell, yeah! Absolutely. There’s no question seeing the young players come through and having success drives each and every one of them. Carlos has trail blazed for a lot of young players. We’re thankful for that.”
“I do think Jannik can become a superstar. I think this sport at the moment has a few superstars. I think Carlos is very similar to Jannik in both the way they play with the excitement level they bring to the game, and their personalities and their likability. Both guys are incredibly alike off the court. They both like each other. They both have a friendly rivalry.”
Sinner, who has strong family support like the Spaniard, said: “Obviously I’m really happy about what Carlos has done and what he is doing. When we play, it’s always a good matchup, but at the moment we also have to say that he is further than I am.”
The Italian leads their head-to-head encounters 4-3 and his performances Down Under showed he has made big progress in his game since losing the Wimbledon semi-final.
Adriano Panatta, the last Italian male Grand Slam winner at the 1976 French Open, told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Sinner has done crazy things in Melbourne. What will happen now? He will now win a lot more Slams. I am sure that he is now the best player in the world. Forget the rankings. In the last three months, he has made a great leap forward and he seems like a different player. He has become a man.”
