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Rafael Nadal - Australian Open 2023, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - Roland Garros 2024
ATP Tennis Players, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Rafa Nadal, Tennis News

Rafael Nadal claims Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ‘don’t need’ big three comparisons


Rafael Nadal has commented on the success that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been enjoying this year, with the 22-time Grand Slam champion claiming that we need to let them create ‘their own story’.

Nadal has been hitting the headlines recently after announcing that he will be retiring at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, but first he will be competing at the ‘Six Kings Slam’ exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This is where the Spaniard currently is, and when speaking to DAZN Nadal was full of praise for what Sinner and Alcaraz have achieved in 2024, “They’re doing great. They’re very young. They’re already achieving amazing things, winning Grand Slams, winning Masters 1000’s, creating great numbers. They are very young, Carlos, Jannik, these guys especially are making a special thing.”

Just last week Sinner drew comparisons to Nadal, after becoming the first player to win three Masters 1000 titles in a calendar year since the Mallorcan did it back in 2018.

Alcaraz has also matched the feats of the ‘big three’ of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer this year after becoming only the fifth player in history to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back.

Despite this, Nadal appears to want the pair to be allowed to create their own narrative in the post-big three era, “We need to wait, but of course. This year already two Grand Slams for each of them. No.1 and No.2 in the world. So they are creating their own story.”

Nadal continued, “I think it’s not a moment to compare eras. Because Novak is still there. Roger and myself, we left, going to leave soon. But that’s part of the sports career of everyone.

“Now it’s a new generation coming. We need to let them create their own rivalries and their own story. They don’t need the comparisons with us. And let’s see at the end of their careers, then will be the moment to compete what they did and what we did.”

Both Sinner and Alcaraz will compete today at the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in the Saudi capital against Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune, respectively.

If they both come out as victors then Sinner will go onto play Djokovic, while Alcaraz will compete against compatriot Nadal.

Inside the baseline…

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are two very special talents, who are undoubtedly going to enjoy a lot more success in the coming years and create a special rivalry of their own. However, Rafael Nadal is probably right when saying that they need to be allowed to create their own narrative, rather than constantly being compared to the unprecedented success of ‘the big three’ that may never be matched.

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Matthew Johns, Tennishead Writer, is a professional tennis journalist with a specialist degree in Sports Journalism. He's a keen tennis player having represented his local club and University plus he's also a qualified tennis coach. Matthew has a deep knowledge of tennis especially the ATP Tour and thrives on breaking big tennis news stories for Tennishead.