"I think he will even be able to reach No. 1": Carlos Alcaraz sees Jannik Sinner as Grand Slam champion and even ascending men's tennis in 2024

Spain’s young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has backed the Italian tennis star Jannik Sinners to claim the number one spot in the ATP Ranking next year.

The 22-year-old, along with Alcaraz and America’s Ben Shelton, is being termed as the most highly-rated youngsters currently playing in the men’s singles category in the circuit.

Sinner recently played arguably the match of his life in his home country during the ATP Finals where he defeated the current world number one Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the group match with a score of 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. Alcaraz was recently quoted in a report where he backed the current world number four to claim the top spot in the ATP Ranking next year and win his first Grand Slam as well.

"As a tennis fan, I saw Sinner's match against Djokovic, I think it was one of the best of the season,” said the world number two. “Very hard fought, everyone enjoyed it. I had fun watching it, it was incredible. I think it wouldn't be easy to play here against Sinner with the audience on his side.

“But when I played him it was always great games, so who knows what could happen. In 2024, Jannik will be a serious candidate to win a Grand Slam. I think he will even be able to reach number one, or put himself in a position to get there."

Sinner’s next opponent in the competition is Denmark’s Holger Rune as the two will clash on Thursday. It will be third meeting between the two as in the previous two meetings, it was the latter who came out on top on both occasions.

Sinner and Rune last faced off in the semifinal of the ATP 1000 event in Monte Carlo where the current world number ended up victorious with a score of 1-6, 7-5, 7-5.