Alcaraz vs Sinner: Who will challenge the dominance in world tennis?

Alcaraz conquers the US Open 2025! The Spanish tennis player, with a radiant smile and euphoria overflowing, knelt after winning an epic final against Jannik Sinner. The match, played at Arthur Ashe Stadium before a crowd of 24,000 spectators, was a new chapter in the intense rivalry between both players, who have starred in three consecutive finals in Grand Slam tournaments. The match was marked by astronomical ticket prices and the fight for the number one in the world. Alcaraz won with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, thus adding his sixth Grand Slam title. The mutual admiration between Alcaraz and Sinner was evident once again, with hugs and congratulations at the net, demonstrating a friendship forged beyond the court.

The New Domain of Men’s Tennis

The victory of Alcaraz consolidates the idea that current men’s tennis is divided into two categories: Sinner and Alcaraz, and the rest. Novak Djokovic, after his victory in the quarterfinals, acknowledged the difficulty of facing Alcaraz in the semifinals and Sinner in the final.

“We know they are the two best players in the world. Everyone probably expects and anticipates the finals between them. I’m going to try to ruin most people’s plans.”

Novak DjokovicDjokovic, after being defeated by Alcaraz in the semifinals, admitted the difficulty of overcoming his young rivals in the Grand Slam tournaments. The US Open final marked the first season since 2002 without members of the “Big Three” (Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal) in a Grand Slam final, confirming the generational change. Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the circuit, winning the last eight Grand Slam titles, with four titles each. The question now is: Will anyone else be able to break this hegemony?

Two years ago, this question might have seemed far-fetched. Alcaraz had two Grand Slam titles and Sinner had reached his first semifinal. Djokovic, for his part, seemed unstoppable, but things have changed. Sinner won the Australian Open in 2024, ushering in the “Sincaraz” era. In 2025, Alcaraz and Sinner have faced each other in the last three Grand Slam finals. Alcaraz won Roland Garros and Sinner Wimbledon. Other players like Zverev, Fritz, Medvedev, and Bublik have also been finalists, but without managing to prevail. Fritz, current world number 4, acknowledges the progress of both players.

“Both have improved a lot. They are improving, getting better. They have taken giant steps in the last two years to become very clear and dominant players.”

Taylor Fritz

Other tennis players like Jack Draper, Jakub Menšík, Casper Ruud, and Ben Shelton have shown flashes of potential. Shelton, with three titles and two Grand Slam semi-finals, is seen as a potential disruptor. “I think those two now, over the next few years, are the ones to beat, [but] someone like Ben Shelton can disrupt them.”

Joao Fonseca, a young Brazilian, is another name that sounds like a possible contender. John Isner believes that Fonseca could be the one to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner. For now, Sinner and Alcaraz seem to be in a league of their own, with a wide lead in the ranking over number 3, Zverev. During the US Open, both players demonstrated overwhelming dominance in their serves and return games. The US Open final was the second time in the Open Era that two men have shared all the Grand Slam titles in two consecutive seasons, matching what Federer and Nadal achieved in 2006 and 2007. In addition, Alcaraz and Sinner are the first pair in the Open Era to play three consecutive Grand Slam finals in the same year.

Tennis is an unpredictable sport, and although Medvedev seemed destined to be the successor to the “Big Three”, his results have been irregular. However, history shows that there is always room for other players to compete at the highest level.

“I think Sinner and Alcaraz will dominate the next three or four years. Do I think they’re going to win each and every one? No.”

Patrick McEnroe