Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz backed to become ‘the big two’ in Grand Slam title prediction
Tennis coaching icon Rick Macci believes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will dominate tennis for “a long time” as he backed the duo to become “the big two.”
The American, who coached tennis legend Serena Williams, expects Sinner and Alcaraz to both become “double figure Grand Slam winners” and claimed “the sky is the limit for both these guys.”
As the two leading young stars in the men’s game, Alcaraz and Sinner are the only ATP players under the age of 28 to win Grand Slam titles.
Alcaraz triumphed at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, while Sinner claimed his maiden major at the 2024 Australian Open. They are expected to form the next great tennis rivalry and have already contested some thrilling encounters.
The pair have played eight times, with the head-to-head level at 4-4 after Alcaraz won their most recent showdown in three sets in the semi-finals in Indian Wells last month.
Between them, the duo have secured three of the four ‘big titles’ on offer so far in the 2024 season. Alcaraz ended his eight-month title drought by winning the Indian Wells Open in March.
Sinner, meanwhile, claimed his second career ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Miami Open last month to add to his Australian Open victory in January. The 22-year-old Italian’s latest triumph — his third title of the year — has seen him overtake Alcaraz to reach a career-high ranking of world No 2.
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In an interview with Sportskeeda, Macci addressed whether Sinner and Alcaraz could match the staggering standards set by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
“I think Sinner and Alcaraz, and there will be a few more that will enter the mix, but I can see them dominating tennis for a long time. It will be the big two, then someone will enter the mix for sure,” Macci assessed.
“They now believe and if you believe you will achieve, and I definitely think both of them will be double figure Grand Slam winners.
“So the sky is the limit for both these guys and what’s great about it, they’re going to keep pushing each other and that’s how you get better because competition makes you a better competitor.”
Alcaraz and Sinner are next due to feature at the Madrid Open, which will begin on April 23. The Spaniard, who has withdrawn from the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open due to an arm injury, is the two-time defending champion in Madrid.
Sinner, who lost to eventual champion Stefanos Tsitispas in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo last week, is seeking his second career clay-court title to add to the Umag crown he won in 2022.
Macci has worked with five players who achieved the world No 1 ranking in their careers: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati and Andy Roddick. The 69-year-old also coached WTA Major champions Mary Pierce, Anastasia Myskina and Sofia Kenin.
READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz addresses whether Novak Djokovic is more vulnerable this year
