TOwards The last section of the unprecedented period of domination of the Big Three because it has become clear that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic would leave their thrones, the future of male tennis was darkened with uncertainty. Although there was a talented and competitive generation of players born in the 1990s while waiting to take their place, the Gulf in quality was important. For a short time, there were opportunities for someone courageous enough to take them.
The fortnight spent in Paris again pointed out how Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have categorically closed the door to this perspective. While they are preparing to compete in a Grand Chelem final for the first time, at Roland Garros on Sunday, he will mark the sixth consecutive Grand Chelem which was won by Sinner, World No. 1 or World No 2, Alcaraz.
This also represents the first major final between two players born in the 2000s. Dominic Thiem’s victory over Alexander Zverev In the US Open final of 2020, this is the only final between two players born in the 1990s.
Six years ago, during his first ATP Challenger tournament and the third professional outing as a whole, a 15 -year -old Alcaraz was attracted against the sinner to Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy in Villena, Spain, his training base. The couple had received generic characters, with not classified Alcaraz and a 17 -year -old sinner holding a classification of No 319. Alcaraz won in three sets. Since then, each meeting has only increased the anticipation that it would be the most important rivalry of the male game. When they fought at almost 3 am In their US Open quarter -final in 2022An instant classic has won in five Sets of Alcaraz on the way to its first Grand Slam title, it seemed inevitable.
“He’s a player who makes me a better player,” said Sinner on Friday. “He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve for the next time I play against him. ”
Although it needs more time to flatten its first mental shortcomings, the sinner established a remarkable level of coherence. His record has been 47-2 since last August, winning the last two titles of the Grand Chelem – The United States has opened up And Australian Open – And the vast majority of these matches were not even close.
His three -month doping ban Between February and May, did not do much to stop it. Six games, Sinner was undoubtedly the tournament player, tearing himself apart without dropping a set. The two players have many years to build their curriculum vitae, but while looking for his first Grand Chelem title far from Hard Courts, Sinner will also try to win his fourth major title, which would attract the level with Alcaraz.
These two defeats suffered by the sinner in this fate came to the hands of Alcaraz, who won their three sets final at the Beijing Open last year and then Pinner recently preceded In Rome, Sinner’s return tournament. Unlike the consistency composed established by the sinner, Alcaraz can be wild and unpredictable. Just as his varied and complete game led him to higher peaks than the sinner, the stockings were much more sorry.
After promoting the newsletter
The sinner is one of the most pure and destructive shooters and he deprives the time of all the challengers with his depth, rhythm and devastating weight of shooting. Alcaraz tried to match the Italian firepower with his own heavy weapons, but he now understands that his edge is his variety. The sinner prosperous on pace and rhythm, but Alcaraz spent the last meetings to use the entire range of shots to disturb Italian.
On Sunday, there are many reasons for Alcaraz to hope for his hopes, even if the Italian continues to destroy the rest of the field. Alcaraz has won its last four meetings, establishing an advance of 7-4 in their tête-à-tête, and Red Clay remains the dominant surface of Spanish.
However, in these battles between two generational talents, the only certainty is that each time they enter the court against their greatest rival, a difficult match awaits.
