Rafael Nadal believes Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner currently hold an edge over other ATP players, but notes the future is uncertain. In a recent interview with La Gazetta dello Sport, tennis legend Rafael Nadal shared his insights on the sport's future, following his retirement at the Davis Cup Finals last November.
Rafael Nadal's comments largely centered on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have swept the last five Grand Slam titles between them.
“[Jannik] Sinner has already won 3 Slams,” Nadal began by stating.
“In the last two years, he has made an incredible leap in his career, and he has become a very confident and solid player with incredible potential.
“I think that for a country that loves tennis like Italy, having a player like Jannik was a must.
“The Italian Federation has done a great job, because there is not only Jannik: there is [Lorenzo] Musetti, [Matteo] Berrettini, [Flavio] Cobolli, there is a great generation of young and talented Italian players, something that can be achieved with resources and work.”
Nadal then shifted focus from Sinner to Alcaraz, with whom he partnered in men's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they lost in the quarterfinals.
“It seems that Jannik and Carlos [Alcaraz] are at a higher level than the others and that if they are spared from injuries, they will fight for the most important titles for a long time,” the 14-time French Open champion commented.
“There will always be new players of a high level.
“Jannik and Carlos have an advantage over the others at the moment; they seem to be at a higher level and have been for the last two years, but we will see; the future is unpredictable.
“The beauty and greatness of the sport is linked to its unpredictability. However, it is clear that these are two special players who will mark an era.”