Boris Becker and Toni Nadal recently shared their insights on the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, discussing which player might have the upper hand.
Toni Nadal believes Alcaraz has an edge over Sinner, while Becker thinks it’s too early to determine which of the two will dominate tennis in the future.
Sinner and Alcaraz are leading the new generation of ATP players, standing out from their contemporaries this season. They are the only men born after 2000 to have won a Grand Slam, with Daniil Medvedev being the next-youngest champion at 28.
Sinner captured his first Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open in January and achieved the world No. 1 ranking for the first time following the French Open. The 22-year-old Italian has only lost three matches this year and has consistently reached at least the semi-finals in every tournament since October.
Alcaraz, at 21, won his third Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June, becoming the youngest man to win Majors on three different surfaces. He also holds the record for the youngest world No. 1 in ATP history.
During an event before the ATP 250 tournament in Mallorca, tennis legend Boris Becker commented on the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry. “It’s impossible to predict which player will dominate in the coming years,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion. “At such a young age, both players face immense pressure. Comparing them to Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, we’ll need to see how they evolve over the next 15 years to make a clear judgment.”
Toni Nadal, the tournament director at the Mallorca Championships, expressed his support for Alcaraz. “Alcaraz is more versatile on the court than Sinner,” he said. “While Sinner has great control, Alcaraz has a slight mental edge. Both are equally strong across all surfaces, reflecting the game’s increasing consistency.”