Jannik Sinner will become world number one after the 2024 Roland Garros, and former legendary player Mats Wilander thinks he'll be number one for a very long time.
The way the Italian player finished last season made many of his rivals realize that he was taking the next step in his career. He elevated his level, won a couple of trophies, and just looked primed to take his game to an even higher level.
That's what happened in Australia, where he won his maiden Grand Slam trophy this year, and he's still playing at that level. He's in the Roland Garros semi-final, which ensured he became the new world number one on Monday.
According to former player Wilander, who spoke to Eurosport, he'll stay there for a while but not in one go because Carlos Alcaraz will likely insert himself in that equation. Nevertheless, Sinner is very worthy of that number-one rank.
"He's won a Grand Slam, so he's a great No.1. He's won Davis Cup, so it's well deserved. You have to feel like you're the best player for a consistent period of time and is Sinner the best player in the world in a consistent period of time, like the last six months? Most probably… I think Jannik will be No.1 for a long time."
"I'm saying he'll be long-term No.1, but not in a row. I think [he and Carlos Alcaraz] will trade off quite a bit. I think Alcaraz seems to me like when he's healthy and really, really playing he might be just a little bit better than Jannik at the moment, but if he's not then I think Jannik is better because he's more consistent."
Alcaraz and Sinner certainly look like the players who will lead the sport in the coming years, at least until somebody else emerges. It's an emerging rivalry, and both players are tremendous, so fans will get a chance to enjoy a lot of great tennis, like that did when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were starting out their rivalry.
"It's the Roger and Rafa sort of thing... It's so healthy to have those two, absolutely brilliant to have those two leading the game from the younger generation."
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