While Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal have retired, and Novak Djokovic is in the latter stages of his career, tennis is experiencing the rise of a new generation of stars led by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka.
During an appearance on Andy Roddick’s podcast Served with Roddick, Nadal shared his thoughts on the sport’s emerging talents after being asked about how it felt to be a role model for Alcaraz, Sinner, and Swiatek, all of whom have expressed their admiration for him.
“I think Carlos is a great kid, a great guy, with a very good family behind him, with positive values. They are humble; they are good people, and that’s why Carlos is the way he is. At the end, the values you receive at home, the way you are educated, are the way you show up,” he said about Alcaraz, who, with four Grand Slam titles, is already viewed as his successor.
“I see the same with Iga, with Jannik. I think Jannik is another good guy—he’s not much of a show-off, focused on what he’s doing. Of course, he went through a very tough process last year, and yeah, it’s been amazing how he was able to stay focused on what he’s doing,” he added.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal during the Paris Olympics
Nadal believes the sport’s future is in good hands. “I think it’s a new generation of great tennis players, and I think they are going to keep helping this beautiful sport grow and engage fans,” he said.
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As Roddick noted, all three players have praised Nadal not only for his achievements and competitive drive but also for his character. “I think that he was one of the best ambassadors for tennis; his legacy is going to be eternal,” Alcaraz said in a press conference at last year’s Davis Cup ahead of Nadal’s retirement.
Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion, also shared a tribute to the 14-time French Open winner. “Thank you so much for everything you have done and what you have given us. As a player, but especially as a person,” he said in a video posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Swiatek has openly called Nadal her pick for the greatest tennis player of all time. The two have shared exhibition matches and practice sessions, and she has spoken highly of his influence. “You’re someone who always stayed honest and true to yourself. Thank you for being a genuinely good person,” she said in a tribute.
With Alcaraz, Sinner, and Swiatek carrying forward the values and intensity that defined the previous era, tennis is poised for a new chapter led by great champions who, like Nadal, embody excellence both on and off the court.
