Gael Monfils and Jeremy Chardy have praised Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as “incredible” talents, but both players caution that it is premature to compare them to tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. In 2024, the 23-year-old Sinner and the 21-year-old Alcaraz have dominated the sport, sharing four Grand Slam titles and winning five Masters events. Notably, Sinner also clinched the ATP Finals and reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, finishing the year with an impressive 73-6 record.
Their remarkable performances have sparked discussions about their potential to be compared to the sport’s all-time greats. Eurosport analyst and seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander remarked in October that “no one has ever played better tennis” than Sinner and Alcaraz at their peak.
Currently, Sinner boasts two Grand Slam titles, while Alcaraz has four. Monfils, a veteran of the tour since 2004, believes it will take at least five to ten more years to make meaningful comparisons to the Big Three. “Of course, Jannik had an incredible year and Carlos as well, but we need to give credit to Jannik because his record was just insane,” Monfils told Tennis365. “It’s tough to compare Jannik and Carlos with the Big Three. These guys are still young, so let’s wait and see. Maybe in five years or ten years, comparisons will be easier.”
Chardy, a former world No. 25 who retired last year, echoed Monfils’ sentiments, emphasizing that while Sinner and Alcaraz are impressive, it is premature to label them as better than Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. “Sinner and Alcaraz have been amazing, and tennis is lucky to have them, but to say they are better than Roger, Rafa, and Novak already… come on,” Chardy said. “At the moment, Sinner and Alcaraz have had a good start to their careers, but you cannot compare them to Roger, Rafa, and Novak yet.”
Djokovic currently holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles with 24, followed by Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20. For Sinner and Alcaraz to approach or surpass these records, they would need to maintain their dominance over the next decade.
Rafael Nadal also weighed in on the comparisons during an interview with DAZN ahead of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. He emphasized the importance of allowing Sinner and Alcaraz to forge their own paths. “We need to wait, but of course. This year already two Grand Slams for each of them. Number 1 and number 2 in the world. They’re creating their own story,” Nadal stated. “It’s not a moment to compare eras. Because Novak is still there. Roger and I have left, but that’s part of the sports career of everyone. We need to let them create their own rivalries and their own story. Let’s see at the end of their careers, then will be the moment to compare what they did and what we did.”
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