It’s nearly impossible to find a rivalry that surpasses the legendary clashes of the “Big Three,” where Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal competed fiercely for tennis supremacy. While fans now look to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s growing rivalry as the next great chapter, Alcaraz himself is quick to downplay any comparison to those historic duels.
With the “Big Three” era fading into history, Alcaraz and Sinner have emerged as two of the sport’s top stars, currently holding the highest spots in the ATP Rankings. Their head-to-head battles are growing in intensity, highlighted by their recent clash in the Rome Masters final, where Alcaraz claimed the title with a 2-0 victory.
However, Alcaraz remains humble when comparing their rivalry to the legendary trio, acknowledging the uniqueness of Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal. “I’m not gonna put myself or the great rivalry that I have with Jannik at (the) same level as those legends,” Alcaraz admitted during a press conference previous to his Roland Garros opener.
While he respects the legacy of the Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, Alcaraz is encouraged by fans’ enthusiasm for his matches against Sinner. “Let’s see in the future how it’s gonna be,” he continued. “Right now, for sure, I’m not going to put ourselves into that table of rivalries, but I think people are excited about watching our matches”.
Alcaraz on today’s competitive field
The World No. 2 noted that the current top 30 in the ATP Rankings is showcasing unprecedented depth and quality, a stark contrast to a decade ago. “I think in general, the top 20, 25, 30, they have really high level of tennis,” Alcaraz explained. “We could see it right now, for example, (Jakub) Mensik is 20, 21 (world No. 19) and he won Miami. That means how strong the top 30 is right now”.
Alcaraz also reflected on the evolution of the sport, suggesting that while the top 10 might have been stronger in the past, the current depth among the top 30 makes the game more unpredictable and exciting. “Ten years ago, the top 10 was much stronger than now, could be, but in general, the top 30 I think right now is really, really strong,” he continued.
In this highly competitive landscape, Alcaraz believes any player in the draw has the potential to make a deep run or even win the tournament. “We have a really open draw that everyone can make really good results or even win the tournament, so I think that’s really good for tennis,” he added.
Alcaraz ready to defend his title
Alcaraz is set to begin his title defense on Monday, May 26, against Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri. During his pre-tournament press conference, the Spanish star reflected on returning to Paris, where he captured his first Roland Garros title last year by defeating Alexander Zverev in the final.
“It feels great to be back here in Paris, in Roland-Garros,” Alcaraz said. “It reminds me a lot from last year, living again that feeling that I had last year. It’s great, having the practices here. I’m just trying to get ready as soon as possible and to have a great level to start the tournament”.