Mats Wilander was tremendously impressed with Jannik Sinner's progress in the past 12 months, but he still thinks Carlos Alcaraz will have the upper hand on clay for many years.
Clay tennis is special, and it suits some players better than others. If we look at the rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz, then we have to say that the Spaniard is a more natural fit on the surface.
He's a superb mover around the court, which certainly contributes to his clay prowess, but even so, Sinner has beaten him on the surface before. They're quite close in level right now, even though the Italian is having a much better year overall.
This year's clay season will be a huge one for both players, and Wilander would give Alcaraz the advantage right now. Not just now but also in the coming years, as he explained in a recent interview with Eurosport.
"I think Carlos Alcaraz will come into the French Open as a heavy, heavy favourite for many more years than Jannik Sinner. But that doesn't mean that Sinner, over five sets, won't win the French Open as many times as Alcaraz, because three out of five sets is a massive advantage for Sinner, being so level-headed the whole time."
Being the favorite means that he should have an advantage, but ultimately, it doesn't mean much. Rafael Nadal was never an underdog on clay in his life, but he still lost matches on the surface, including big ones such as matches at the Roland Garros.
Sinner might not be the favourite against Alcaraz on clay, but he's proven that he can beat him on the surface, and that's what ultimately matters. Getting out on the court and winning matches. That's what Sinner demonstrated at the Australian Open this year. He went out there and won them all.