Changing of the guard: Patrick Mouratoglou labels five players he believes could challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

If there is anyone to take tennis advice from, Patrick Mouratoglou should be high on your list. The former coach of Serena Williams has made a name for himself in tennis and has now shared his two cents on who could challenge Carlos Alcaraz.

The pair have dominated men's tennis for the past two years, sweeping their opponents aside with ease and collecting numerous titles. They have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles, charitably sharing four apiece in that time period, with their previous six tour matchups being finals. Currently, Sinner is competing in the China Open, while Alcaraz is making his debut in the Japan Open.

If Sinner had not been suspended for three months of 2025, then he would have undoubtedly challenged for more silverware. He started the year with an ominous victory in the Australian Open, before taking that hiatus due to a failed drugs test. Since then, he has competed in three Grand Slams, two Masters 1000 events, and a grass competition at Halle. Coincidentally, that was the only event where he failed to reach the final. He won Wimbledon for the first time, but lost all the other to his arch-rival Alcaraz.

The Spaniard has gone berserk this year, winning seven titles from nine finals achieved. The main headlines from this are obviously the titanic battle he and Sinner had at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz produced a mind-blowing comeback to clinch his second clay major. Most recently, he also stole the Italian's US Open crown back, along with getting the better of him in the Rome and Cincinnati finals.

It seems that the only players who could beat them are each other. However, Mouratoglou has named five players with the potential to challenge themJannik

Recently rising to sixth in the world after claiming his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, the American number two has caught the eye of many as he charges up the rankings. Injury has halted his short-term progression, but when he steps back onto the court, he will be a threat to anyone.

"For me, the biggest breakthrough of this summer has been the emergence of Ben Shelton at the very top level. He’s exciting to watch, he fills up stadiums, and when he plays, things happen. His serve and forehand are unbelievable, and being left-handed gives him another advantage. He already has two key pieces of the full package. But he needs to improve his movement and make his backhand a true weapon. If he does, he can really compete with Carlos and Jannik."

Maybe a bit of a surprise inclusion if you bypass the recent run to the US Open semi-final, but the Canadian number one has caught the eye of Mouratoglou, who picks out his backhand for the one major improvement to send him back to the top.

"It was great to see him back on track at the US Open. His serve, forehand, and movement are fantastic. He also improved his backhand, but it still needs to become a real strength. In today’s tennis, you can’t afford a weakness. If Felix develops that backhand further, he can be top 5 and compete at the very highest level."

The 19-year-old has gotten every tennis fan talking this year. Recently becoming the youngest player to feature at the Laver Cup, he became the youngest South American to win a title on tour in the Argentina Open earlier this year. The Frenchman cites no real weakness in his game, but urges 'patience' to let this talented Brazilian develop.

"So many people are talking about him as the next big thing. He’s got huge potential, with no real weaknesses in his game. Both groundstrokes are very strong, he serves well, he moves well, and most importantly—he really wants it. But we have to be patient. He’s still young, still learning, and he needs to climb the rankings step by step before becoming a real threat."

Mouratoglou had a brief spell as Holger Rune's coach, so he has an indepth amount of knowledge on the young Dane. While he may have had an inconsistent 2025, his former coach believes that he can get back to his best if he keeps his emotions in check.

"I know Holger well. He has what it takes: huge forehand, huge backhand, great serve, unbelievable movement, and a big desire to succeed. But right now, he lacks stability and consistency. His emotions sometimes take over, and that can cost him matches. If he solves that, he’s right up there."

Jack Draper's season has been abruptly halted due to an arm injury he had been nursing through the previous two Grand Slams. Since reaching the US Open semi-finals last year, he has propelled up to a career-high fourth in the world before Wimbledon, clinching his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells. Despite this, he may never be able to challenge the best if he cannot get on top of his injury record.

"Jack made great progress, winning Indian Wells and reaching the final in Madrid. His backhand is no longer a weakness, and he’s very driven. But his issue is his body. He keeps getting injured, which stops him from building momentum. If he can stay healthy, he has the qualities to be a rival."