Former world number two Croatia’s
Goran Ivanisevic believes
that Italy’s
Jannik Sinner can pose the biggest threat to Spain’s young tennis
star
Carlos Alcaraz.
The 20-year-old is now the talk of the town after winning
his maiden Wimbledon title last month following a memorable win against the
current world number Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller with a
score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.
Ivanisevic, who also won a Grand Slam in his career and is now Djokovic's coach for a while now,
has been quoted in a report where he named Sinner as the biggest potential
rival of the current world number in the years to come.
"The generational change takes six or seven years,” said the 51-year-old. “I know we look at Medvedev, Rublev, Khachanov, Shapovalov, Felix, Sinner,
Alcaraz, Rune. Alcaraz has been here for two years, but let's say Medvedev has
been here for five or six, he's 27 years old. They are not from yesterday.
“Alcaraz is a story in itself and Sinner is the only one who
can threaten him at the US Open along with Novak. Sinner's game bothers Alcaraz
and they've had some very interesting encounters so far. Also, if Medvedev's
day coincides and he plays, for me he is also a phenomenal player. Novak is the
only dinosaur among the best, the rest are all young.”
Both players have faced off seven times in professional
tennis where Alcaraz has a slight edge with four wins compared to three from
Sinner.
Their most recent meeting was in the Miami Open in March
earlier this year where the current world number eight came out on top with a
score of 6-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Both players have met twice in the Grand Slam events where both
went on to win a game each.
