Carlos Alcaraz has dominated on the ATP Tour in recent months, but his young rival, Jannik Sinner, dominated the first part of the year.
Rivalries push sports forward in many ways. Most of the iconic years in tennis were marked by a signature rivalry. The Big Three era is the most iconic era of tennis precisely because three legendary players were battling each other week in and week out.
If there was only one player who would dominate, the era wouldn't be as iconic. The individual's legacy would be as strong as ever, but in many ways, a fierce rivalry pushes the legacy even further.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz will very likely dominate tennis in the coming decade. Their rivalry has been blossoming in recent months, and it's very good tennis. Alcaraz is among those who think it helps the sport.
During his post-Wimbledon final press conference, he mentioned the Italian and their rivalry when asked about him.
"I think being there with Jannik, 21 and 22 years old, at the top of the ranking. Winning Grand Slams. I think it’s good for tennis to have new faces winning big things. Fighting for big tournaments."
"I’m really glad to have him there. As I said many times we have a really good rivalry. Many young players are coming up and fighting for big things as well. It’s great for the sport, for tennis… and the players as well."
There is always a chance that a third player enters the party, with many pointing to Holger Rune as the likely player to join the emerging 'Next Gen Big Three'. Only recently, it seemed impossible to think that we would see a player talented similarly to the Big Three again, and here is Alcaraz, with four Grand Slams at the age of 21.
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