Former WTA Player Unconvinced of Other Players Challenging Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will face each other in an exhibition match in Seoul, South Korea.

Former WTA Player Unconvinced of Other Players Challenging Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jannik Sinner HQ)

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For the past two seasons, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the men’s circuit, especially in Grand Slam events. They have been near-unbeatable on the ATP Tour for the best part of this season. Former WTA player CoCo Vandeweghe has revealed that he’s not convinced that any player will challenge the duo.

Throughout the 2025 season, only a few players were able to beat Alcaraz, apart from Sinner, and only two players were able to beat Sinner, excluding Alcaraz. Novak Djokovic, Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Jiri Lehecka, and David Goffin were the only players to beat Alcaraz, and they did that only once.

Sinner was the only player to beat Alcaraz twice in 2025. On the other hand, Alexander Bublik and Tallon Griekspoor were the only players to beat Alcaraz, who defeated Sinner four times on the court. With that Sinner and Alcaraz seem to be arguably the best players in the men’s circuit and have produced a more consistent performance than other players.

In Grand Slam tournaments, both players shared the last eight major titles, with Djokovic’s victory against Daniil Medvedev at the 2023 US Open being the last time someone else won a major tournament. Also, Alcaraz and Sinner have played each other in the last three Grand Slam finals.

For the past few months, Joao Fonseca and Taylor Fritz have been dubbed as the likely players to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz. But CoCo Vandeweghe believes that no current player in the men’s circuit can compete with Sinner and Alcaraz. The former Grand Slam champion added that if a player should eventually emerge as a strong challenger, he has been consistent on the court:

For there to be someone consistently challenging Alcaraz and Sinner, I think it might not happen in the next five years. Of the field that currently exists, I would predict it would be a player who is still working on a complete game and isn’t fully formed.

Alcaraz and Sinner will face each other in an exhibition match in Seoul, South Korea on January 10, just eight days before the Australian Open kicks off. The Spaniard made headlines a few days ago after parting ways with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, despite working together for seven years. Ferrero has since voiced out his frustration about the split, but Alcaraz is yet to reveal his side of the story heading into the 2026 season.

Alex de Minaur hopes to be the player who will challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner next season

Alex de Minaur has yet to defeat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in his career. The Australian star has reached a more consistent level of performance and has demonstrated his ability to play great tennis on the court. Currently, he’s ranked in the top 10 in ATP and has maintained that position for the past two years.

Alex de Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Alex de Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Yet, when it comes to decisive matches against Alcaraz and Sinner, he has always lost. After arriving in Perth ahead of the United Cup in Australia, he was asked in an interview with Mundodeportivo whether he would compete with Sinner and Alcaraz. The Aussie admitted that he’s gradually getting to the level of Alcaraz and Sinner as he hopes to be the disruptor of their dominance:

I’ve played some tight matches against them over the past few years, and I feel like I’m gradually getting closer. For me, it’s about finding different ways to disrupt these players, being ready to take more risks and put them under greater pressure. My goal is to get stronger and keep improving. Nothing replaces hard work, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Over the years, I’ve put on a bit of weight, and that’s helped me.

Alcaraz and Sinner will kick off their 2026 campaign at the Australian Open, but De Minaur has decided to feature in the mixed team event at the United Cup. He will represent Australia at the tournament with the hopes of using it to get to his best level ahead of the first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

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