Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been the two dominant forces on the ATP Tour over the past two years.
The pair, ranked first and second on the ATP Tour, have won the past nine Grand Slam titles combined, with Alcaraz winning the latest in Melbourne.
It seems Alcaraz and Sinner’s response has triggered a reaction from their contemporaries, with various ATP players showcasing clear adjustments to their game at the start of this year.
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One of those players is Daniil Medvedev, who has been resurgent at the start of 2026.
Another example is Alexander Zverev.
Andrea Petkovic says Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have forced Alexander Zverev to adjust his forehand and net game
Speaking on the Big T podcast ahead of the Miami Open, former world number nine Andrea Petkovic weighed in on the impact of Alcaraz and Sinner’s ATP Tour dominance.
“I had witnessed something that has sort of wore itself off already in Australia, but not only there,” Petkovic said.
“I felt many players were playing the best tennis they have ever played and I thought it was the Sinner/Alcaraz effect.
“Take somebody like Alexander Zverev, he has improved his [net] game for the first game tremendously and very overtly to our eyes. He is through his forehand better and coming to the net more often and that’s because he knows Sinner and Alcaraz are a bit ahead of him and he needs to close the gap.
“I thought Ben Shelton played the best tennis he has ever played at the Australian Open until he had a bit match against Jannik Sinner, but I thought he played the best match he’s ever played.
“I thought Jakub Mensik played some of his best tennis ever. You could see players behind Sinner and Alcaraz adding to their games, playing the best tennis they have ever played, and they are still evolving.
“So I do think there is something to be said for the Sinner/Alcaraz effect and I think we can see it with the men’s players. You can see it with Daniil Medvedev.
“And I have to say hats off to him and Cam Norrie, who have both come back. There is the comeback we have seen from Jack Draper and Arthur Fils, where you are struck by injury and you come back with maybe a newfound appreciation for the sport.
“But there is also the comeback where it’s like my tennis is not good enough for the way the sport has modernised. So then you need a transition period and, yes, I might lose for a few months.
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“And that’s true for Cam Norrie, who is almost back in the top 10 [Ed note: Norrie is ranked 24th on the ATP Tour], and for Daniil Medvedev who is back in the top 10.
“I do think sometimes we are quick to judge players when we don’t know what they are trying to do and we need to give them time to evolve.”
Zverev, Alcaraz and Sinner are all scheduled to compete in the Miami Open this week.
Alcaraz is set to face Fabian Maroszan or Joao Fonseca in his opening match; Sinner will face Damir Dzumhur or Ignacio Buse; and Zverev will play Martin Damm or Jacob Fearnley.
Alexander Zverev’s Miami Open draw
If Zverev [seeded third] defeats Damm or Fearnley, he will likely play 27th seed Brandon Nakashima in the third round.
The German star could play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Learner Tien in the fourth round, before a projected quarter-finals against Ben Shelton.
If Zverev were to reach the semi-finals, he would likely play Jannik Sinner.
The German has a 4-7 record against Sinner and has failed to defeat the Italian once in his last six attempts.
Most recently, Sinner defeated Zverev in the Indian Wells semi-finals, 6-2, 6-4.
