Juan Martín Del Potro will know better than anyone just how difficult it can be to chase greatness.
After all, he spent his entire career thwarted by the Big Three, and yet still managed to forge plenty of success for himself.
Well, speaking exclusively to Tennishead, the Argentine has now made his pick for the player he believes has the best chance to upset the modern-day dominance of the ATP Tour held by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Juan Martín Del Potro’s pick to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Gabriela Sabatini was first to explain just how difficult it can be to chase legends, having also been mostly present during a period when Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were at their best.
She shared: “I think there are many players these days [that could challenge], you know, it doesn’t happen all the time.
“I mean, the last few tournaments, you know, we haven’t seen Alcaraz reaching the finals or Sinner, you know, for one reason or another, you know, it’s difficult also to maintain and keep winning every tournament.
Who do you think will retire with more Grand Slam titles?
“But, no, I mean, you have, you know, a lot of players. I mean, you have Zverev.”
Juan Martin Del Potro then interjected as she began thinking up some other challengers with his own pick: “I like Sebastian Korda. Yeah, he’s great. I think he has a talent to be closer to the top guys. Of course, the Brazilian one, Fonseca. He’s still young, but I believe he could be in a good position in the future.”
Sabatini then added a few more names to the list: “Yeah, you have some from Eastern Europe. Also, they are doing, you know, quite well from Russia.
“You see new names, I think we have seen in Miami. You have seen some Spanish guys, also Jodar, who did very well, just now in Barcelona. Italy also with Musetti, Cobolli. I mean, I think they have to win, they have to beat them, you know, so, yeah, it’s nice to see.”
Joao Fonseca has been tipped to soon challenge Alcaraz and Sinner, and these two Argentine ambassadors would discuss the 19-year-old in much greater detail later on.
What is the Roland Garros Junior Series?
Del Potro and Sabatini were more than happy to discuss current events on the tennis tours, but were more interested in the Roland Garros Junior Series.
After all, their ambassadorial duties compel them to emphasise the importance of it, whilst both Sabatini and Del Potro rated Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning a 25th Grand Slam title.
The event has been ongoing since 2022, when Joao Fonseca, referenced earlier, won the inaugural event.
He stands as the shining light to have emerged from this initiative, where this year, 16 boys and 16 girls from South America are competing for a wildcard into the Roland Garros Juniors’ draw.
This tournament aims to fast-track the development of these stars, who might not have been afforded such a golden opportunity.
And, in doing so, help promote the growth of tennis in a continent that is crazy for the sport.
Gabriela Sabatini and Juan Martín Del Potro discuss Joao Fonseca’s rise
Discussing Fonseca in greater detail, and their pride in working with an event that contributed to his rapid rise, Del Potro was asked how far he thought he could go.
The 2009 US Open champion was coy, but admitted: “Well, for us, it’s tough to say from now how far he could reach, you know, in the future years, but Fonseca played this tournament and these juniors are looking to him a lot.
Will Joao Fonseca be the man to break up Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s dominance?
If not, who will be?
“You know, they believe in themselves that if they win the tournament, maybe they could be like Fonseca is as a tennis player right now.”
“For us, being an ambassador, and being close to the juniors, and talking with them, and spending some time with them, is beautiful. We love our sport. We love to share our experience with the kids, and we are so happy to be here at this event once again.”
Sabatini reaffirmed that pride, adding: “Yeah, it is a great experience. Um, I mean, just, uh, you know, spending time with them, and and seeing them, how committed they are with the tournament, and to be able to see the atmosphere, how it feels, to be practically at Roland Garros. It’s a great exposure and a great experience for them.
“So, yeah, it’s great to see Joao Fonseca, you know, coming out a little bit from this tournament and see what he’s doing for South America.
“I mean, we need more of this, you know, Joao Fonseca’s.”
