There is little doubt that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the two players setting the standard on the ATP Tour right now. Sitting at No. 1 and No. 2 in the world rankings, the young stars have separated themselves from the rest of the field. And according to seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander, they may even be on course to surpass the legacy left behind by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The former World No. 1 believes Alcaraz and Sinner could challenge the dominance of the Big Three legends—if they continue to reach Grand Slam finals and compete at the level shown this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
“If Sinner and Alcaraz keep playing finals like they did at the French Open, then it’s possible that they will get to a higher level than Federer and Nadal,” Wilander said at the US Open, via Tennis365.
The numbers back up their rise. The last seven Majors titles have been split exclusively between the two. Alcaraz has won Roland Garros in both 2024 and 2025, as well as Wimbledon in 2024, while Sinner has claimed the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, the 2024 U.S. Open, and most recently Wimbledon.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz pose with their trophies after the 2025 Wimbledon final. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“In terms of the level of the play, I mean, tennis has never been played at a higher level than the French Open Final this year was played,” Wilander added. “That match has put a lot of pressure and expectations on both Sinner and Alcaraz for them to be able to do that again and again, and again, because that’s what it’s going take for them to become more important than Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal”.
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Carlos Alcaraz reaches six titles in 2025 with Cincinnati Open: How many trophies does Jannik Sinner have this year?
Wilander reveals who could beat Sinner and Alcaraz at the US Open
Sinner and Alcaraz enter the US Open as the clear favorites to meet once again in the final of the year’s last Grand Slam. Sinner, the defending champion, will look to retain his crown, but former World No. 1 Mats Wilander believes there are two players who could spoil their plans.
“At the U.S. Open, my dark horse is American Ben Shelton. This is partly due to his recent results, but above all because of his playing style. I think he is capable of beating Alcaraz and Sinner,” Wilander told TNT Sports. “If he serves really well, I think he will be the dark horse. We can also add Alexander Zverev. Will he ever win a Grand Slam? It’s possible. But he is always there”.
Shelton enters New York in the best form of his young career, having recently climbed to a career-high No. 6 in the ATP rankings and capturing his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, where he defeated Karen Khachanov in the final.
Meanwhile, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev remains in search of his first Grand Slam title. The German fell to Sinner in the Australian Open final earlier this year but arrives at the US Open in strong form, having reached three semifinals in his last four tournaments.
