'Better and tougher' - Goran Ivanisevic rates Jannik Sinner above Carlos Alcaraz, states only Novak Djokovic can challenge them
ATP
Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic believes that Jannik Sinner is a better tennis player than Carlos Alcaraz, also describing him as 'tougher' than his Spanish rival. The two have faced off in some classics in recent months, with the last two Grand Slam finals being closely contested between them.
Sinner has come out on top in three of the last four Grand Slams, making the final of all four previous. The one he lost was in a titanic five-hour battle against the Spaniard, who saved three match points in the second set to win his second Roland Garros title.
Despite having won more Grand Slams, former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic rates the current Wimbledon champion slightly higher than the reigning Roland Garros winner, but admits they are a long way ahead of everyone else.
“This was a one-way final, Sinner was better and in my opinion he is currently a slightly better player than Alcaraz, and the two of them are five spears ahead of everyone else,” Ivanisevic said to Croatian outlet Gol.
“Sinner is better, tougher, I don’t know what tactics I would play against Sinner, he has an answer for everything. He comes back, gathers his strength, wins the tournament."
'The only one who can maybe fight with them is Novak Djokovic'
Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated tennis for the last two years, winning the last seven previous Grand Slams and eight of the last nine. The last person to win one not being called Sinner or Alcaraz - Djokovic.
The Serbian, who has won 24 Grand Slams, last triumphed in 2023, as he defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to take the US Open. Since then, his best result has been Wimbledon runner-up in 2023, losing to Alcaraz.
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In this period, he has also lost to Sinner in three major semi-finals, including the previous two Grand Slams. Despite these recent results, Ivanisevic still believes that Djokovic is the only person who could fight them.
“The only one who can maybe fight with them is Novak Djokovic, but the others don’t have a chance," the Croatian said. "The question is how much longer Novak will play — he’s the only one who can make their lives difficult. But they’re young, they’ll play ten more years. And they have no competition."
Lack of competition makes it easier
Men's tennis is looking like it is going to have another period dominated by a select few players, with the last one having occurred with the 'Big Three' - made up of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic, who won a staggering combined total of 66 Grand Slams between 2003 and 2023.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic make up the Big Three
It is now the turn of Alcaraz (5) and Sinner (4), who already have nine between them. In an interview with Clay Tenis and RG Media, Ivanisevic believes the pair will win 'a lot' of Grand Slams, and even hinted that there is a chance the pair could catch and surpass the Big Three.
“A lot, because they’ll share it between them,” Ivanisevic said. “Now it’s a matter of numbers — I don’t know if they’ll catch the Big Three, but anything is possible — records are there to be broken."
The Croatian also believes it will be easier for them to win more titles. Unlike the big three, who had players like Andy Murray and Stan Warwinka among others who challenged them on a regular basis, Alcaraz and Sinner look to be unbeatable to anyone aside from each other.
“As I said, they have no competition, so it will be easier. The Big Three had to play each other, plus [Andy] Murray, [Stan] Wawrinka, [Juan Martin] del Potro… Who’s the competition for Sinner and Alcaraz?”
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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