Andy
Roddick responded to Mats Wilander's assessment of
Jannik Sinner's progress in
2024. The Swedish legend recently praised the Italian world No. 2 for his rise
on the tour and his ability to improve, comparing him to members of the Big 3:
"It’s
an incredible improvement, an improvement that I don’t think I’ve seen in a
young player since the Big 3, when Novak Djokovic went from being a normal
player to understanding ‘I’m better than these guys,” Wilander said.
However,
Roddick commented on social media that while he agrees with the Swedish
opinion, he added that the case of
Carlos Alcaraz is similar, as he made a
great leap to position himself as the leader of the ranking. The Spaniard, who
reached world No. 1 for the first time in September 2022, was ranked No. 33
that same year just before the Australian Open.
"I
love Mats and agree w the sentiment. Didn’t Alcaraz go from outside top 30 to
year end number 1 in same year?" the 2003 US Open champion said.
Sinner and Alcaraz at 2022 US Open
The
Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry
Carlos
Alcaraz (20 years old) and Jannik Sinner (22 years old) have quickly built a
rivalry that captures the attention of fans with spectacular matches. So far,
the head-to-head record is tied at 4-4, with Alcaraz claiming the latest
victory in the semifinals of Indian Wells before clinching the title for the
second consecutive year.
Currently,
Alcaraz is ranked world No. 3 and has two Grand Slam titles, while Sinner is
No. 2 and won his first Grand Slam at the recent Australian Open. Additionally,
both players have secured 13 professional titles, and with their young age,
they are likely to offer many years of rivalry ahead.