'I hope Roger, Novak and Rafa aren't listening' – Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner rivalry gets highest praise

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner served up another tennis match to remember when the Spaniard came out on top in a thrilling China Open final on Monday. Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has now hailed the young stars' match-ups as "one of the best sporting events ever." He added that the 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal never "played better tennis" than the youngsters.

Wilander: Alcaraz and Sinner 'following in the footsteps of the big three'

Video credit: TNT Sports

"When Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis."

That's the remarkable take from seven-time major champion Mats Wilander, who said matches between the young guns deserve to be considered amongst "the best sporting events ever" after their China Open final showdown.

Alcaraz roared back from a set down to beat the world No. 1 and claim the title in Beijing, edging 6-4 in front in their head-to-head in the process.

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An enthralling contest was settled by a deciding set tie-break and Eurosport expert Wilander was left in awe by the spectacle.

“Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put on such a great, entertaining show. To me, it's up there with the absolute best sporting events ever,” Wilander said.

“It keeps happening every single time they play. They come up with suspense, they come up with entertainment.”

“What you see with them is that the match can go any direction. Either of them can win. Neither of them are intimidated by the other person,” he added.

“There are momentum changes in their matches just like any other tennis match, but they don't last that long. They last for five or ten minutes maximum, and then the other guy comes back and does something, and then he's back on top.”

The rivalry between the pair marks an exciting new era for a sport so long dominated by the ‘Big Three’ of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

While that celebrated trio racked up an unprecedented number of major titles in men’s tennis – 20, 22 and 24 respectively – Sinner and Alcaraz promise to offer up another epic era of competition.

The explosive Alcaraz, 21, already has four major titles to his name, while world No. 1 Sinner, 23, won his first two Slams this year in Australia and New York.

Highlights: Alcaraz downs Sinner in marathon three-set classic to seal China Open title

Video credit: SNTV

“They are following in the footsteps of the 'Big Three' in terms of level,” Wilander said.

“I hope Roger, Novak, and Rafa are not listening, but in terms of level, when Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis, that the tennis ball has done more different, complicated, difficult things than the ball is doing between Sinner and Alcaraz.”

Alcaraz broke through in spectacular fashion as a teenager, winning his first major at the US Open aged 19 in 2022 and becoming the youngest player to become world No. 1.

Although he has enjoyed further success since then, winning back-to-back Wimbledon crowns in 2023 and 2024 and claiming the Roland-Garros crown this year, Wilander believes there is more yet to come from the Spaniard.

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Video credit: SNTV

“Carlos Alcaraz is the same as he's been for the last three or four years,” Wilander said.

“He's a rough diamond. Sometimes he's very, very polished. Sometimes he's a rough diamond.

“Jannik Sinner, to me, is making these encounters more interesting because he has become more complete, plays with more variety, dares to hit a drop shot here and there, comes to the net sometimes. So surprises are coming from both sides of the net.”

He added: “I hope [Alcaraz] doesn't change. I hope he doesn't really polish his game too much because that's what's so interesting.”

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