Kafelnikov slams Sinner as ‘one-dimensional’ as Alcaraz placed alongside Big-3 legends
ATPTuesday, 29 October 2024 at 09:41
Former
world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov criticised Jannik Sinner as a “one-dimensional
player” and placed Carlos Alcaraz on par with the Big-3: Novak Djokovic, Rafael
Nadal, and Roger Federer. The Russian former tennis star compared the Italian
to two past players: Sweden’s Tomas Johansson and Slovakia’s Dominik Hrbaty.
The 2-time
Grand Slam champion commented that Sinner is designed to hit powerfully and is
a modern version of former world No. 12 Hrbaty and 2002 Australian Open
champion Johansson: “Sinner is a serial hitter, a high-level player but he is
one-dimensional, that is, he lacks the versatility of play that characterises
the great champions,” he said.
On the
other hand, Kafelnikov made clear his preference for 4-time Grand Slam champion
Carlos Alcaraz: “I think that in terms of potential and talent Alcaraz is not
inferior to Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. Sinner is another matter,” he
commented. “He has a lot in his arsenal, he can play both attack and defence.”
Recently,
Sinner faced criticism over his participation in the Six Kings Slam. After
receiving the largest prize money in history, the world No. 1 mentioned, “I
don’t play for the money,” and even Andy Roddick expressed disapproval that
Sinner earned 25% of his career prize money in just three days at an
exhibition.
Read also
“It’s very simple. Sure, $6 million is a lot of prize money, but I
went to Riyadh because there were probably the six best players in the world,
and you can compete with them,” Sinner said. “It was also a nice event; it was
my first time in Riyadh, and it was very nice.”
“When you come back as a winner, for me it was more like
saying: OK, I played the matches in the right way, and I hope this can improve
me as a player for the future,” the 2-time Grand Slam champion said. “Of course
money is important, but not that much. I live well even without money. What is
much more important is my health, my family, and the fact that I am surrounded
by the right people. Money is just an extra."
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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