John McEnroe picks the "third party" who could threaten the favoritism of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The 7-time Grand Slam champion compared the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz to that of Federer and Nadal, and the emergence of Novak Djokovic as a third player who was able to reach the level of the two absolute dominant players for years.
Recently, Sinner and Alcaraz starred in one of the most epic Grand Slam finals, for many even the best. Alcaraz saved three match points before turning the match around from two sets down and claiming the victory in the 5th set tie-break, securing his 5th Grand Slam title. Currently, Sinner and Alcaraz have shared the last 6 Grand Slams played since the beginning of 2024.
McEnroe analyzed what's to come at Wimbledon, where Sinner and Alcaraz are the favorites. McEnroe believes it will be an opportunity to see if there's another player who can challenge them. "It's going to be an interesting time to see if there's another player or two who can break in with those two the way Novak (Djokovic) did when he was trying to get to the same level as Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal)," McEnroe told reporters on Wednesday.
The former world No. 1 believes there could be a couple of young players who have the skills to fight for the major titles. "It shows you what type of a player he was that he was able to do that. But right now, there's a void.”
McEnroe nominated 19-year-old Jakub Mensik – Miami Open champion this year – and the 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca as great rivals for the future. In addition to the American Ben Shelton, who already has a couple of Grand Slam semifinal appearances. "One of those two guys or Ben would be my choice right now," said seven-time Grand Slam champion McEnroe. "I think it would be important to get another guy or two to add to the mix. That would be really helpful."
"It was unheard of what we watched over the last 20 years and you can make the argument that what we're seeing now is even faster and different from what we saw even five years ago," said the former world No. 1. "I can't wait to see what it's going to be like in 10 years, or five years even."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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