Mats Wilander declares the new Big 2 of men's Tennis

The debate about whether Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are playing tennis on par with the legendary ‘Big 3’ of men’s tennis has intensified throughout 2024, and now another prominent voice has weighed in. 

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have dominated the men’s game for two decades, each securing an unprecedented total of 20 or more Grand Slam titles, a feat once deemed improbable.

Sinner and Alcaraz have officially begun their era of dominance, showcasing their exceptional talent by sharing the Grand Slam titles this year.

Wilander's take on the topic

Their remarkable performances have led former world No. 1 Mats Wilander and current world No. 4 Taylor Fritz to confidently declare the emergence of a new ‘Big 2’ in men’s tennis, serving up a brand of tennis that rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, that of the legendary players who came before them.

“I think it’s fair to compare them to the Big 3,Accolades-wise; maybe it’s not as there is so much more of their career to play out, but in terms of ability and talent they are right up there," he said.

“The stuff they can do is pretty special. The way Sinner and Alcaraz move... they are there with a prime Djokovic. They are going to be at the top for a very long time,” he added.

As everyone looks forward to the first Grand Slam of 2025, Kokkinakis confidently identified four players who will undoubtedly compete for glory at the Australian Open, including Alexander Zverev as a key contender on his list.

“Sinner and Alcaraz are the favourites, with Djokovic just behind them,” he stated.

“Zverev is playing some great tennis, but you would say those Sinner, Alcaraz, and Novak are just ahead of him. You can’t write Novak out. It looked like he was taking a bit of a decline, and then he goes out and plays like that and wins the Olympic gold. That shows you can never write him out,” he added.