Rafael Nadal has shared his thoughts on the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the new faces of men’s tennis following the ‘Big 3’ era. However, the Spanish tennis legend avoided making direct comparisons between their emerging rivalry and his own iconic battles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
As Nadal nears the end of his career, he has arrived in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam exhibition, where he will compete alongside Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. There’s a possibility that Nadal could face Alcaraz in the semifinals and then potentially meet Sinner in a high-profile final, provided the Italian defeats Medvedev and Djokovic en route.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have already established a compelling rivalry on tour, having faced each other in 10 matches at the highest level. Their most recent showdown took place during the title match at the 2024 China Open, where Alcaraz claimed a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), bringing his head-to-head record against Sinner to 6-4.
In a recent interview with DAZN, Nadal acknowledged the excitement surrounding the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner but urged patience in drawing comparisons to his own rivalries with Federer and Djokovic. He highlighted that it was still too early to evaluate the new generation in the context of the previous era, particularly with Djokovic still actively competing.
Nadal stressed the importance of allowing Alcaraz and Sinner to create their own story without the burden of being compared to the intense competition of the ‘Big 3.’ He explained, “It’s not the time to compare eras because Novak is still competing. Roger and I have either left or are close to leaving, but that’s part of the natural progression of sports. Now, a new generation is emerging.”
He added that it would be better to leave Alcaraz and Sinner to establish their own rivalries and history, free from the pressure of constant comparisons. He suggested that once their careers are complete, then it might be appropriate to assess what they achieved compared to the ‘Big 3.’
During the same interview, Nadal praised both Alcaraz and Sinner as standout talents from the new generation, acknowledging their remarkable accomplishments at such young ages. He expressed confidence that both players are capable of having long and successful careers, as long as they can avoid injuries.
“They’re doing great things. They’re very young and already achieving incredible results, winning Grand Slams and Masters 1000s, and they’re producing impressive numbers,” Nadal said. “Carlos and Jannik, particularly these two, are doing something special. I wish them all the best to continue growing, as they are already huge stars, and I believe if they remain injury-free, they’ll have extraordinary careers.”
Following the Six Kings Slam, Nadal will return to action to represent Spain in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, marking his final tournament before retirement. He will be joined by Carlos Alcaraz for Spain’s quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands, while Jannik Sinner will lead Italy in their match against Argentina.
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