With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the ATP Tour has been blessed for at least the next decade.
After all, as many feared what might happen as the Big Three began to retire, these two superstars have emerged, ready to dominate and continue bringing new eyes to the sport.
As is always the case with new and great rivalries such as theirs, fans, pundits and even players like to debate what the future holds for them.
Stan Wawrinka is the latest, having been asked who out of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner he thinks will finish their careers with more Grand Slam titles.
Stan Wawrinka compares Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Speaking at the Monte Carlo media day this weekend, he was coy in delivering his answer.
“I think the beauty of the sport is we don’t know the answer yet,” he began. “I think that’s the beauty of also what they’re doing already.
Who do you think will retire with more Grand Slam titles?
“They are fighting each other, they are already at the top, they are already racing each other, let’s put it that way to win more slams.
“I think the best match we could see tennis-wise in the last few years was when they faced each other at the top level. And this is what I hope I will see in the next 10 years and hopefully many times in the final of slams, and then well done to the one who will have more slams.”
At this moment in time, Alcaraz has seven major titles, whilst Sinner has four. However, the Spaniard is two years younger than his great rival, which could help him at the twilight of his career, should he manage to remain competitive deep into his 30s like Novak Djokovic.
Nick Kyrgios also spoke about Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominance over the ATP Tour recently as well, exclusively to Tennishead.
Stan Wawrinka admits he was nowhere near the Big Four
Later in that same interview, whilst on the topic of tennis greatness, Wawrinka then discussed how Alcaraz and Sinner relate to the Big Four that came before them.
Including Andy Murray in this group, which also includes Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, the Swiss maestro explained how he felt competing in an era of dominance similar to the one the rest of the ATP Tour is contending with.
Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray… who is the greater player? Let us know why below 👇
Wawrinka claimed: “Let’s look at the Fab Four, for more than 10, 12, 15 years, they won every single tournament. They won every Masters 1000, they won every Grand Slam. They won every 500, every 250. Not only did they win all that, but they were also 90% of the time playing each other in semifinals.
“So I had the chance to win three slams, and I would say, unlucky for Andy [Murray]. He had the same amount of slams, but he had so many Masters 1000; he’s been so many times in the final. He’s been so many times there, that I’m really, really far away from the Fab Four.
“And I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. I’m super happy, I achieve way more than I could dream. And it was amazing to be able to play those 15 years in the same generation as them, because as a fan of tennis, it was something special to watch them play, and it was amazing as a competitor to try to beat them.”
