“We desperately need him”: Mats Wilander says Carlos Alcaraz is the only player who can stop Jannik Sinner

Mats Wilander believes Roland Garros is currently defined by the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and the dominance of Jannik Sinner, with the former world No. 1 arguing that the Spanish player is the only realistic counterweight to the Italian at Grand Slam level. Speaking ahead of the French Open, Wilander directly linked Alcaraz’s withdrawal to a loss of competitive balance in Paris.

The 7-time Grand Slam champion now working as a Eurosport analyst, framed the situation not only in sporting terms but also in structural terms for the men’s tour. In his view, Alcaraz represents a rare force capable of disrupting the current hierarchy, particularly in best-of-five matches where consistency under pressure becomes decisive.

He also stressed that Sinner’s current level is the strongest in the field, but repeatedly returned to the idea that the Italian’s dominance is amplified by the absence of his closest rival. The result, he suggested, is a draw that feels significantly more open in theory than in practice.

The Swede also had words for the new star of Spanish tennis – Rafael Jodar – whom he hopes will soon establish himself in the top 10 and even win a Grand Slam title in the future.

Mats Wilander, former world No. 1 and Eurosport analyst, said the Roland Garros picture is being directly shaped by Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal and Jannik Sinner’s status as clear favourite. In his assessment, the Spaniard is the only player capable of consistently challenging the Italian at Grand Slam level.

“The tennis world loses when Alcaraz doesn’t play because of his level and how fun he is to watch, just like Rafa Nadal before him," Mats Wilander said in an interview with AS. "We desperately need him. He’s the only one capable of stopping Sinner.”

Wilander was even more direct when summarising the competitive gap created by Alcaraz’s absence ahead of Roland Garros 2026. “We desperately need him,” he added. “He’s the only one capable of stopping Sinner.”

He also referenced Sinner’s current level, with the Italian arriving in Paris as world No. 1 and main title contender after a season where he has established himself as the most consistent player on tour. “Right now Sinner is playing the best tennis of his life, and with Alcaraz injured, nobody is beating him. It looks impossible to win against him.”

Wilander also highlighted Rafa Jódar as part of Spain’s next generation, placing strong emphasis on his mentality and long-term projection despite limited experience at Grand Slam level. “I think 100% that he will be a top-10 player within the next three or four years, and that he will win a Grand Slam one day.”

He then turned to the tactical problem of facing Jannik Sinner, stressing that the approach cannot be based on short-point aggression, but on sustained rally discipline designed to reduce the Italian’s ability to dictate. “It takes a community effort to pressure him. If opponents only go for winners all the time, physically it’s not a hard match for Sinner. You have to play the style Jannik hates most: keeping the ball through the middle of the court without giving him angles.”

On the wider Roland Garros title picture, Wilander directly named the main contenders behind Sinner and expanded on how he sees the draw hierarchy shaping up in Paris.

“You have to include Sascha Zverev and Casper Ruud among the favourites. I am one of those who thinks the German will win a Grand Slam before he retires; he plays better with age, has more weapons, takes more risks, and I don’t think he will lose to anyone except Sinner at the French Open."

"The surprise can be Arthur Fils because he has the game, the conviction and the crowd on his side. He is just behind them, but he is the dark horse.”

He also added a psychological angle regarding a potential final between Sinner and Zverev, focusing on perceived belief levels in high-stakes matches. “If Zverev faces Sinner in the final, he will go in with the mentality that, in a way, he cannot beat him.”

Wilander addressed the growing injury list on the ATP Tour, linking it directly to the physical demands of modern tennis rather than isolated incidents or scheduling anomalies. “It’s simply natural and bad luck that players like Musetti and Alcaraz are injured right when we arrive at their favourite surface.”

On medical treatment for cramping, he criticised the ambiguity surrounding on-court decisions and the difficulty officials face when distinguishing between different types of physical issues during matches. “Treatment shouldn’t be allowed. The problem is that we’re in a grey area where everything becomes a subjective decision for the chair umpire. At the beginning, it’s very difficult to know whether it’s a muscle strain or cramp.”

Finally, Wilander focused on prize-money distribution, arguing that the key issue is not elite earnings but structural sustainability for lower-ranked players across the tour. “What really matters is that prize money keeps increasing so the player ranked No. 100 can afford the same support team and conditions as Sinner. That would push our sport to different levels.”