Nick Kyrgios weighs in on how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would fare against peak Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
Nick Kyrgios believes that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will surpass the level of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The Australian made the comments whilst speaking on the Ultimate Tennis Showdown’s ‘All on the Table’ series, alongside Patrick Mouratoglou.
Kyrgios has never faced Alcaraz, but has clashed against Sinner – losing 7-6(3), 6-3 in Miami in 2022.
“I think they are playing better. I think the game keeps evolving,” said Mouratoglou, who is currently coaching Naomi Osaka.
“I watched the final of Roland Garros [between Alcaraz and Sinner] and then saw the final on grass between Federer and Nadal [at Wimbledon], and it’s so much slower. The pace they play is unreal.
“It’s hard for me to say, maybe because I am getting older too, I think they will eventually surpass them, but not right now,” said Kyrgios.
“At their prime. Prime Federer that year, where he won Indian Wells, Miami, Australian Open. That year, I don’t think so.
“The slice. I think Federer would play really well against Sinner and the slices and bring him forward, he would make him feel [uncomfortable].
“And Federer against [Daniil] Medvedev, I think Federer would destroy him. But then I think maybe Alcaraz beats Federer. I don’t know. It’s hard for me to say they are better right now, or maybe I don’t want to.”
The Spaniard and Italian have now shared all of the last seven Grand Slams, including the last two Grand Slam finals.
Most recently, it was Sinner who triumphed against Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to claim his fourth Grand Slam.
Just a few weeks prior, the two competed in the longest-ever French Open final, at five hours and 29 minutes. On that occasion, Alcaraz saved three championship points to prevail 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2).
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“I am just saying it’s a lot faster, and if you look at Alcaraz, his game, he can do everything that Roger was doing but faster, so that is my feeling,” Mouratoglou added.
“But I don’t like to compare eras because tennis was there. We had the greatest champions at that time, but tennis was going to another level, it was always evolving, and at the moment we have the best champions we can have.”
“Nadal on the clay in his prime, I don’t think they are better,” said Kyrgios.
“I agree with that because Nadal has such a different game on clay than anyone, so it is difficult to imagine what it would look like to play prime Rafa on clay,” commented Mouratoglou.
“I think Alcaraz would beat him sometimes, but Nadal would probably win six or seven times out of 10 on clay,” added the 2022 Wimbledon finalist.
“But then Alcaraz would probably beat him anywhere else, so maybe he is better.”
