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.
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.”
