Stan Wawrinka Claims Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Are Playing ‘Better’ Than Previous Generation

Both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were last seen in action at the Qatar Open, and both have skipped the ongoing Dubai Open. They will be back in action for the Sunshine Doubles, the first event of which, the Indian Wells Masters, is set to start on March 4.

In Doha, Alcaraz breezed past Arthur Fils to win his first title in the tournament. Sinner’s debut run, however, was ended by Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals. Later, the Italian told reporters that he had been experiencing a slump in form.

Prior to the Doha ATP 500 event, Sinner failed to defend his Australian Open crown, as in the semifinals, he lost a five-set thriller to Novak Djokovic, who failed to clinch his 25th Major with a four-set defeat to Alcaraz in the championship clash. Sinner and Alcaraz have now won a combined nine Grand Slam titles since the 2024 season, and according to Stan Wawrinka, they are playing better than the previous generation.

The new generation is always going to be better than the last. If you look at the level right now of Jannik and Carlos, it’s been crazy high. I had the chance to play Jannik many times. Last few times was really tough. Hopefully, I can play Carlos once before I stop playing.

Stan Wawrinka said at the press conference in Dubai

The 40-year-old trails 2-4 in the head-to-head matchups against Sinner. The couple of matches that he registered were in their first two meetings in 2019. Wawrinka, who is playing in his farewell tour, knocked out Benjamin Hassan in the first round in Dubai.

Carlos Alcaraz reacts to Jannik Sinner’s Roland Garros goal

After crashing out of the Qatar Open, Jannik Sinner revealed that one of his main goals for the 2026 season is to win at Roland Garros and complete the Career Grand Slam. Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in last year’s Roland Garros final, was asked about his rival’s goal at the press conference after his Doha win.

Well, yeah, I mean, I’m trying not to think about anything else but myself. And what I feel right now it’s like I love playing tennis, and I love competing. It is time to enjoy every time that I am able to play and step on the court. So we sometimes just keep going over ourselves, and we don’t stop and think about everything.

Sinner had squandered a 2-0 lead as well as three match points in the Roland Garros final. But he later took his revenge by denying Alcaraz a three-peat at Wimbledon. Alcaraz then stopped him from defending his US Open title.

So probably, and I’ve been injured, and in that time that you are out of the competition, you’re missing it, and you realize how beautiful it is the competition and the tennis. So once I’m able to do it, it’s time to stop thinking about it, and think how beautiful and how lucky am I to step on court.

Carlos Alcaraz added

Alcaraz leads 2-1 in Grand Slam finals against Sinner and also in their overall head-to-head matchups, winning 10 of their 16 matches. The Spaniard has already completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open, becoming the sixth man to do so, as well as the youngest man, breaking Rafael Nadal‘s record (24).

At Indian Wells, Alcaraz lost to eventual champion Jack Draper last year. Then, in Miami, he suffered an opening-round exit. Sinner skipped the Sunshine Doubles events due to his three-month doping ban. The last time Sinner won a title was at the 2025 ATP Finals by beating the seven-time Major champion.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Issues Update on Back Injury Ahead of Dubai Championships Title Defense

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