Jim Courier Thinks Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Would’ve Challenged Big 4 as They ‘Don’t Have Weaknesses’

Since the 2024 season, Jannik Sinner has won four, while Carlos Alcaraz has won five major titles.

Jim Courier Thinks Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Would’ve Challenged Big 4 as They ‘Don’t Have Weaknesses’

L-R: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray (circle), Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Jim Courier (circle) (Image via ATP Tour, X/ Jannik Sinner HQ, Tennis Temple)

In Short
  • Jim Courier believes Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would have been competitive against the Big 4 in tennis.
  • Alcaraz recently won his first Australian Open title, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
  • Both players are set to compete in the Qatar Open, starting February 26th.

According to Jim Courier, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have mastered every aspect of the game, which has made them formidable players. Courier even thinks these youngsters would have challenged the Big 4 of tennis: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.

Recently, Alcaraz lifted his career’s first Australian Open title by overcoming a 1-0 set deficit and securing a four-set win against Djokovic. Before denying Djokovic his 25th Major, Alcaraz knocked out last year’s runner-up, Alexander Zverev, in the longest semifinal of the tournament.

Sinner, who was chasing a three-peat, fell in five sets against Djokovic in the semifinal, with the win helping the latter snap his five-match losing streak against the Italian. Alcaraz and Sinner won the last nine Majors as well as the previous two ATP Titles.

I think they would have been competitive with the Big Four. They probably grew up watching them and copying what they did. Jannik looks a lot like Novak in how he moves and plays. Carlos looks like no one — he’s his own thing. He’s taken the best parts of everyone.

While Sinner made the finals of every Major last year, the Spaniard reached his fourth consecutive Grand Slam final in Melbourne (also his first in the tournament).

What’s clear is that for most of tennis history, you could be a top player with a weakness. Right now, Sinner and Alcaraz don’t have weaknesses. That means technique becomes even more important. When the game is this fast, you have to be offensive everywhere. That’s relatively new. Rafa eventually had no weaknesses. Roger changed rackets late in his career, so his backhand became more of a weapon – especially against Rafa.

Jim Courier added

Both Sinner and Alcaraz will now be shifting their focus to the Middle East Swing, where they both have signed up for the Qatar Open, scheduled to start on February 26th. Alcaraz lost to Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals last year, while Sinner was forced to skip to serve his three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Greg Rusedski says Jannik Sinner wouldn’t have won Wimbledon without Grigor Dimitrov’s injury

Jannik Sinner won last year’s Wimbledon by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in four sets. Former player Greg Rusedski believes the result of Wimbledon would have been different had Grigor Dimitrov not injured his right pectoral muscle.

Grigor Dimitrov, Jannik Sinner
Grigor Dimitrov, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/FITF)

The experienced Bulgarian took the first two sets off the four-time Grand Slam champion in the fourth round but was forced to retire mid-match. Sinner later knocked out Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, before denying the seven-time Grand Slam champion a three-peat in the final.

Rusedski believes opponents are allowing Sinner and Alcaraz to dominate because of a lack of variety. The former British No.1 cited Dimitrov’s example to explain why players need to come up with a different plan to tackle the World No.1 and the World No.2.

I think Grigor Dimitrov played the perfect match [against Sinner] at Wimbledon. He was up two sets to love, and Roger Federer himself said, I know how to play Sinner now after watching that Wimbledon match. Sinner wouldn’t have won Wimbledon without that injury, and I think he would probably be talking about Alcaraz winning another Wimbledon title.

Greg Rusedski said on the Off Court with Greg podcast

The Wimbledon revenge came after Sinner’s Roland Garros disappointment. But at the US Open, Sinner failed to defend his title, losing in four sets to the Spaniard. The first time they locked horns in a Major final was at Roland Garros. Since the 2024 season, they have won a combined 27 tour-level titles from 36 finals.

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