Not Alcaraz nor Sinner: US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro names the best tennis player in the world

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are two of the top players in the world right now, and given their young age, both have the potential to dominate the ATP Tour for years to come. However, US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro believes another star still holds the title of the best player in the game today.

“Djokovic is still playing. And for me, as long as he’s active on the tour, he’s the best,” Del Potro said in a recent interview with Olympics.com. “Tennis-wise, he’s the best,” said the Argentine legend, who believes Nole still has the energy and talent to compete at the elite level and win major titles.

“He has so much experience, and if he’s physically in good shape, for me, he’s going to keep trying—and he just might do it,” said Juan Martin, who also speculated about Djokovic’s main motivation to keep competing on the ATP Tour at 37: “I think he can still win more Grand Slams… Achieving that is something very personal for him.”

At the same time, the 2009 US Open winner made it clear he hopes to see Novak claim at least one more major title before retiring. “It would be something really beautiful for the tennis world if he wins again,” he said. “Like he did in Paris, winning the gold medal,” he added, referring to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic.

Del Potro explains what made the Big 4 so dominant

During his prime, Juan Martin Del Potro competed against Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray. That made his chances of reaching the top of the ATP rankings nearly impossible. “A lot of us played well, but they make a small difference in the smallest details,” he reflected.

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“It’s not just tennis—it’s mentality, physicality, character, the way they handle pressure. And for many years they did it better than all of us, especially in key moments or at big tournaments,” added Juan Martin. “If they’re playing at an 8 or 9 level on the tour, in Grand Slams they play at 10, and that’s where we couldn’t catch up because they are just that good.”

Del Potro on today’s global tennis landscape

Novak Djokovic is the last remaining member of a generation of players that dominated its era. Now, many young talents are competing to take that mantle, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and Del Potro weighed in on what the future may hold.

“It could be a good generation, but they’re still very young and it’s too early to say whether they’ll be that good,” explained Juan Martin. “What’s important is that they play really well and have the potential, but often potential and talent alone aren’t enough. You need hard work, discipline, and good health.”

Finally, the Argentine legend spoke about how the retirement of the sport’s biggest stars is creating opportunities for the next wave of talent. “Before, there were only six spots left in the Top 10 because the Big 4 was impossible to break,” he said. “Now that the Big 4, David Ferrer, Stan Wawrinka and I are no longer there, the Top 10 is changing a lot. There’s a big opportunity for everyone.”