Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ‘GOAT’ claims dismissed by ATP stars
There have been numerous claims that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are playing at a better level than the iconic trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but that claim has been dismissed by two players who lived through the era of the ‘Big 3’.
Former world No 1 Mats Wilander started the debate when he claimed Sinner and Alcaraz have taken to new heights over the last couple of years, as they have stepped into the void left by the now-retired Federer and Nadal, with Djokovic also in the final phase of his career.
Speaking to Eurosport, Wilander sensationally claimed that “no one” has come close to matching the level Alcaraz and Sinner produce at their best.
“Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put on such a great, entertaining show,” said Wilander. “To me, it’s up there with the absolute best sporting events ever.
“It keeps happening every single time they play. They come up with suspense, they come up with entertainment.
“What you see with them is that the match can go any direction. Either of them can win. Neither of them are intimidated by the other person.
“There are momentum changes in their matches just like any other tennis match, but they don’t last that long. They last for five or ten minutes maximum, and then the other guy comes back and does something, and then he’s back on top.
“They are following in the footsteps of the Big 3 in terms of level.
“I hope Roger, Novak, and Rafa are not listening, but in terms of level, when Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis, that the tennis ball has done more different, complicated, difficult things than the ball is doing between Sinner and Alcaraz.”
Those comments were backed up by current world No 4 Taylor Fritz, who suggested Sinner and Alcaraz are hitting the ball with more pace than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
“One thing both of those guys do is… their defence is incredible,” said Fritz.
“They don’t really play that much defence. When they are full on the run out in the corners, they just crush the ball.
“I can be in a backhand cross (court) rally with either one of them and if I hit a forehand, it’s got to be so good or else that next ball is getting just drilled huge cross court.
“They just play these lateral baseline points… like we used to see Nadal and Fed and most you saw Nadal and Novak have these long points, corner to corner.
“When Sinner and Alcaraz do it corner to corner, they have these same rallies but I swear they are hitting the ball ten miles an hour faster. It’s just crazy.”
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We are always quick to rush to judgment in all sports and claims that 23-year-old Sinner and 21-year-old Alcaraz are already playing at a higher level than the three greatest players in tennis history seems like a lavish claim.
Former world No 6 Gael Monfils has now given his verdict on the story, as he spoke to Tennis365 at the UTS Grand Final in London and insisted the new kings of men’s tennis still have some way to go to match the legends who built the most golden era in the history of men’s tennis.
“Of course, Jannik had an incredible year and Carlos as well, but we need to give it to Jannik because his record was just insane,” said Monfils. “It’s been an unbelievable year for him and on the numbers, he has to be the best player this year.
“It’s tough to compare Jannik and Carlos with the ‘Big 3’. These guys are still young, so let’s wait and see. Maybe in five years, ten years. Then comparisons will be easier.
“Now Carlos is 21, so it’s really tough to compare him to someone like Novak, who is 37 and has won so many Slams.
“What we can say is these two guys are doing it in a way that will give them a chance to match the legends in our sport.”
French Davis Cup winner Jeremy Chardy also dismissed the notion that Sinner and Alcaraz are playing tennis that has put them on a different level, as he also spoke exclusively to Tennis365 at the UTS Grand Final in London.
“Sinner and Alcaraz have been amazing and tennis is lucky to have them, but to say they are better than Roger, Rafa and Novak already… come on,” said Chardy with a smile.
“I played these guys so many times in my career and they were incredible players with incredible records.
“At the moment, Sinner and Alcaraz have had a good start to their careers, but you cannot compare them to Roger, Rafa and Novak yet, of course not.
“I don’t like to compare eras, maybe in ten years time we can look at what Jannik and Carlos have done and say it is comparable to these three guys, but not yet.”
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