Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are being praised by Thanasi Kokkinakis, who thinks they can be compared to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. These three legends have been the top players in tennis for many years, with Djokovic still actively competing.
Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup after a memorable doubles match with Nadal. Despite their fierce rivalry on the court, they’ve always shared a strong friendship. Nadal’s career also came to an end recently during the Davis Cup Finals when he lost his last match against Botic Van de Zandschulp.
Some people wonder how long Djokovic will keep playing since he’s already won every major title in tennis after his Olympic gold this year. Fans might think it’s too soon to compare Alcaraz and Sinner to these legends, as Nadal himself said earlier that such comparisons might not help the young stars.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
Rising Stars: Alcaraz and Sinner
But Alcaraz and Sinner’s performances this year were so impressive that some can’t help but draw parallels between them and the legendary trio. They have emerged as top players in 2024, with Sinner winning both the Australian and US Opens while Alcaraz took home victories at the French Open and Wimbledon. This was a big deal because it meant Djokovic didn’t win any Grand Slam titles for the first time since 2017.
At an event called the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London, Kokkinakis explained why he believes comparing these young talents to past greats is fair. He highlighted their incredible abilities on court:
“I think it’s fair to compare them to the Big 3… The stuff they can do is pretty special.”
Kokkinakis also picked Sinner and Alcaraz as favorites for next year’s Grand Slams but didn’t count out Djokovic or Alexander Zverev entirely:
“Sinner and Alcaraz are favorites… You can’t write Novak out.”
Some experts rank Djokovic’s chances lower than those of Sinner or Alcaraz for future Grand Slams. To boost his chances of success, Djokovic has even brought Andy Murray on board as his coach until at least after the Australian Open.
What do you think? Can these rising stars really match up to tennis legends like Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic?
