"There is an abysmal gap between them and the rest" - Former Spanish pro weighs in how long Sinner-Alcaraz domination can last

2025 has been a year of pure and utter dominance from both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The gap is described as 'abysmal' by former doubles Grand Slam champion Feliciano Lopez, with him seeing no change for the near future.

With the two star players having finished up for the year, it has been a season to remember. Between them, they have won 14 titles and met in countless finals. The last eight Grand Slam titles have been split between them, as they both shared two a piece this campaign, locking horns in the previous three.

Their gap at the top is so large that no one is even close to coming in striking distance. The third ranked player, Alexander Zverev, sits a huge 6,340 points behind Sinner in second place, who trails Alcaraz by 550 ranking points. For context, if Zverev wins the next three Grand Slam events while Sinner and Alcaraz, he will still be behind them based off the points they currently own. The German is closer to the 1000th ranked player than second, a stark reminder of how far the chasing pack is behind.

As for this domination, the Davis Cup director believes that change is not on the horizon. "The numbers speak for themselves. I don't have a crystal ball, but in the short term, it's unlikely to change," Lopez said. "I don't see any player capable of challenging them for the major titles and the world No. 1 spot. For the next three years? Maybe there will be a Sinner from Slovenia or an Alcaraz from another country. Nobody knows yet... But there is an abysmal gap between them and the rest."

A huge factor for their firm grip hold over the ATP Circuit is their ability to improve at a rate which nobody can keep up with. The two of them push each other along at the ridiculously high standards they have set and are able to adapt their game to whatever setting. "They are too strong, whether physically, technically, or mentally," Lopez acknowledged. "The trend is confirmed over time. They also have the ability to evolve and perfect their tennis in all areas of the game, while the others cannot."

Despite this dominance, Lopez lauded the pair and admitted they are great for the sport. "Tennis is very lucky to have these two players. They are two different personalities, two great representatives of this sport," he stated.

While they have definitely made the ATP more predictable when predicting a winner of an event, the matches they have produced against each other have made for incredible viewing. Take example the Roland Garros final earlier this year. Sinner looked like he was storming to a straight sets victory over the reigning champion, but the 22-year-old had other ideas. In a match that lasted over five hours, Alcaraz saved three consecutive match points and fought back to eradicate the advantage and clinch a famous victory. The spectacle was watched my millions around the world, showcasing the popularity and followers these two bring to the sport.

While this does not look like it will change, there are plenty of other tennis stars looking to be the next player to take that next step. The closest challenger looks to be Novak Djokovic, Teh 38-year-old has won it all in a legendary career, but even he cannot compete with Sinner or Alcaraz when they are on song. His four consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals showcase that. Zverev will always pose a threat, but his recent trouncing's by Sinner paints a different picture. Former challengers Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas are not at their best, while it may be too soon for the likes of Joao Fonseca to throw his hat into the ring.