Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, despite their youth, already have a rivalry destined to be written in the history books.
After all, the contests they have shared already in their young careers have snagged the attention of the entire tennis world, with their most recent meeting in the French Open final arguably transcending the sport.
What’s so exciting about these two is that this is only the beginning.
Aged just 22 and 23 respectively, they could have another 15 or more years to offer to the sport, and during that time will likely claim innumerable honours to cement their legacies.
However, it’s worth remembering where this rivalry began on the ATP tour: ironically, in Paris.
What Jannik Sinner said at the net to Carlos Alcaraz back in 2021
However, their first professional meeting did not come at the Grand Slam hosted in France, but instead at the Masters 1000 event held nearer the end of the year.
There was much excitement heading into this clash, between two teenagers who many were predicting would soon rise to the very top.
By this point, Carlos Alcaraz had already won his first ATP-level event in Umag, and reached the fourth round of the US Open.
Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, seemed slightly ahead of schedule, winning four titles and reaching the final of a Masters 1000 event in Miami during that year.
It was a match-up that many had been waiting for, and it certainly delivered, with the younger of the two coming out on top in a fiercely contested straight-sets victory.
However, it was what was said at the net that was more interesting, with Sinner, despite losing, telling Alcaraz that he hopes they meet again on court.
He leaned over to state: ‘I hope we play some more.’ His opponent was equally as enthusiastic, replying: ‘Yeah, yeah yeah, for sure man!’
It’s fair to say that, not only have they played each other a fair amount since, but the quality has only increased.
That being said, Pat Cash wondered about how Sinner might react to his French Open final loss, given how harshly he took defeats of that magnitude during his career.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to dominate for decades
Last month’s blockbuster Roland Garros final marked their 11th meeting since that match in Paris, with each meeting arguably ramping up in intensity, stakes and excitement.
They are both on track to enjoy careers good enough to one day be considered alongside the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
And, given their ongoing domination of the ATP tour, that could happen sooner than we think.
Between them, they have shared the last six Grand Slam titles, and seem set to meet again in the Wimbledon final too.
Alcaraz has five major titles, and Sinner has three, and both have two of their favourite Grand Slams coming up in the next few months too.
They truly seem set to maintain a stranglehold on the sport for decades, and will likely share many more legendary battles too.
