Both Sinner and Alcaraz are still in their early 20s, but their impact on the game has been undeniable.
The tournament director of the Masters 1000 in Toronto recently hit out after the world’s two best players missed his tournament this year, while their rivals are always keeping an eye on their achievements and working to beat them.
But one of their competitors, Daniil Medvedev, a fellow former No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, believes a new challenger could be waiting in the wings to break up their dominance.
“Jannik and Carlos are playing amazing, they are the top two at the moment and they are playing better than everyone else, but never underestimate a third guy who is going to come and challenge them,” the current world No. 15 told the ATP.
The 2021 US Open champion, who beat Djokovic in the final to win his maiden Grand Slam title, is still only 29 years old, but he remembers a time when Federer and Nadal were tipped to conquer the sport. And history could well repeat itself.
Medvedev added: “I remember Roger and Rafa: When Rafa was 20, 21, he had already won two or three Roland Garros titles.
“They were talking about this time when he won Wimbledon for the first time, and it was his first Grand Slam outside of Roland Garros.
“Then at this point, when everyone thought they were going to share all the Grand Slams, there was this one Serbian guy who came a little bit later and won more than them.”
Djokovic, who won his first Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open and then didn’t lift another for three years, came from behind to rewrite history.
The Serb now has the most Grand Slam titles of any male player with 24, surpassing Nadal’s tally of 22 and Federer’s haul of 20 Majors. Djokovic is still a contender for the biggest titles today, losing only to Sinner at the last two Slams.
If Medvedev’s prediction rings true, we could well see a young talent emerge to join Sinner and Alcaraz at the top of the game. But for now, they remain the clear favourites to continue their reign at the upcoming US Open.
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Content Source: www.express.co.uk