Greg Rusedski makes big Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune prediction

Ewan West 16 Nov 2023 1:02 PM

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the net

Former world No 4 Greg Rusedski has made a big ATP Rankings prediction involving the young trio of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.

The 1997 US Open finalist backed Sinner to be the world No 1 player in five years, while he thinks Alcaraz and Rune will sit in second and third position respectively.

Jannik Sinner overcame world No 1 Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career with a stunning three-set win at the 2023 ATP Finals on Tuesday night, a match Rusedski feels was his best ever performance.

The Italian is currently at career-high ranking of world No 4 following an excellent 2023 season to date, with the 22-year-old having been particularly impressive since Wimbledon.

Sinner has won four titles this year, including the biggest of his career so far at the Canada Masters in August, as well as ATP 500 tournaments in Beijing and Vienna in October.

Despite having a challenging run in recent months, world No 2 Alcaraz has had a superb year, winning ATP six titles. The 20-year-old triumphed at Wimbledon with an epic five-set win over Djokovic in July, while he has also claimed Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Madrid this season.

The Spaniard became the youngest player to ever be ranked ATP world No 1 following his maiden Grand Slam victory at the 2022 US Open.

World No 10 Rune has also had an impressive campaign, despite a seven-match losing streak that started at Wimbledon and ending in Beijing. The 20-year-old Dane was particularly good during the clay-court season, where he won a title in Munich and was a runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Italian Open.

Following Sinner’s win over Djokovic in Turin, Rusedski revealed he thinks the trio widely regarded as the best three young ATP players will be leading the tour in five years.

“The best match I have ever seen Jannik Sinner play, from start to finish last night. In five years time, who will the top 3 in the world be? I think it will be 1. Sinner, 2. Alcaraz, 3. Rune,” wrote the British-Canadian.

The best match I have ever seen Jannik Sinner play, from start to finish last night.
In 5 years time, who will the top 3 in the world be?
I think it will be 1-Sinner, 2-Alcaraz, 3-Rune.

— Greg Rusedski (@GregRusedski1) November 15, 2023

Sinner and Rune will face off in the final round-robin tie in the Green Group at the ATP Finals on Thursday night, with the Italian in a strong position to qualify after winning is first two matches. Rune and Djokovic – who will play Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday afternoon – are both also in contention to progress from the group.

Alcaraz will take on world No 3 Daniil Medvedev in his third group match on Friday, with a win likely to see him advance to the semi-final stage.

Rune and Alcaraz are both making their debuts at the year-end championships, while Sinner played two matches as an alternate in 2021.