Ex-ATP Player Suggests Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Are Playing ‘Boring’ Tennis If Compared to Big 3: “They Were More Interesting”

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are chasing ATP 500 titles at the China Open and the Japan Open, respectively.

Ex-ATP Player Suggests Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Are Playing ‘Boring’ Tennis If Compared to Big 3: “They Were More Interesting”

L- Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz; R- Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ, ClutchPoints)

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After the concern over who would lead men’s tennis after the Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic era, the two youngsters, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, have ensured that tennis is in good hands.

They have dominated firmly on the tour since 2024, playing a total of 29 combined finals, including 15 this year. But former player Jerzy Janowicz, who now plays padel, is nostalgic about the Big 3 era, as he finds current tennis quite boring.

I miss the rivalry between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer terribly. Today, everything in tennis seems so boring; everyone plays the same. Maybe I’m a little nostalgic, but they were the most interesting to follow, more so than Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who are also very strong.

Jerzy Janowicz said during the FIP Silver Mediolanum Padel Cup event in Turin (H/T: Tennis World Italia)

Janowicz, who turned pro in 2007, faced Nadal twice and only once met both Federer and Djokovic. He never clinched a win against the Big 3.

Federer and Nadal hung up their rackets at the 2022 Laver Cup and 2022 Davis Cup, respectively. Djokovic, after his defeat to eventual champion Alcaraz in the semifinals of the US Open, said he plans to continue his quest for his 25th Grand Slam title next year. His last Grand Slam victory came at the 2023 US Open, and since then, Major titles have been won only by the World No.1 and World No.2, sharing the last eight Majors between them.

Sinner is in Beijing, bidding to win his second title at the China Open. On the other hand, Alcaraz is aiming to win his eighth title of the season on his first appearance at the Japan Open, and knocked out Sebastian Baez and Zizou Bergs to schedule the quarterfinal clash with Brandon Nakashima.

Jannik Sinner lauds Terence Atmane after hard-fought win in Beijing

Jannik Sinner survived a scare in the third round of the China Open as Terence Atmane took the second set off him. Sinner upped his level in the third set, handing a bagel to the Frenchman to clinch the match in his favor. At the press conference, Sinner called the 23-year-old a unique player, against whom he now holds a 2-0 head-to-head lead after also beating him in the semifinals of this year’s Cincinnati Masters.

Jannik Sinner US Open 2025
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner)

The truth is, there aren’t many players like him on the circuit. He has a unique playing style. Plus, he’s left-handed, he’s a player, he has improved a lot since we saw each other in Cincinnati. Today, he had some physical problems, but for a second-round match, he’s a very tough opponent. Perhaps his concentration dropped a bit in the third set, but it’s normal; this is sport, we go through many phases, and it’s normal to get a bit nervous in those moments.

Sinner’s quarterfinal opponent is Fabian Marozsan, who went past Benjamin Bonzi and Alexandre Muller in the previous two rounds. The four-time Grand Slam champion previously met the Hungarian in the fourth round of last year’s Halle Open, which Sinner won before reaching the final and winning the title.

Sinner clinched the China Open in 2023 by beating Daniil Medvedev, and last year, Carlos Alcaraz stopped him from defending the title, beating him in three sets in the final. The Italian is chasing his third title of the season after his wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Sinner is also bidding to win his first ATP 500 title of the season in his second appearance in an event in this category after the Halle Open (lost in the second round).

Also read: Lorenzo Musetti Apologizes for Controversial Chinese Comments at Beijing Open