Carlos Alcaraz is more naturally talented than Jannik Sinner, according to Ireland's Davis Cup captain and acclaimed author Conor Niland.
Alcaraz and Sinner have the most exciting rivalry on the ATP Tour right now. Despite their young ages, debates are already emerging about which of them is the superior player.
Sinner has established a massive lead at No. 1 in the rankings after an outstanding breakthrough season. His Australian Open and US Open titles were the most significant moments, but he also won other tournaments.
The 23-year-old was recognized as the world No. 1 at the ongoing ATP Finals. He could widen an already substantial lead at the top of the rankings by winning the season-ending tournament.
Alcaraz is already a four-time Grand Slam champion despite being just 21. The Spaniard secured two more Grand Slam titles this year at the French Open and Wimbledon, but he will still end 2024 at No. 3 behind Alexander Zverev.
Sinner and Alcaraz have played several incredible matches, including memorable five-set battles at the 2022 US Open and this year's French Open. Alcaraz also outlasted his rival in a lengthy and grueling China Open final last month.
Daniil Medvedev spoke honestly about which young star he thought was better after losing to Sinner at the Six Kings Slam a few weeks ago. He argues Sinner's peak level is slightly better than Alcaraz's, having initially thought the opposite.
Niland recently wrote a critically acclaimed book, 'The Racket,' about the lives of lower-ranked tennis players. The superb work has been nominated for the William Hill Sports Of The Year Award.
The Irishman spoke to Tennis 365 about Alcaraz and Sinner. Although Niland is a fan of both men, he believes Alcaraz possesses slightly more talent than Sinner but praised the Italian's calm demeanor on the court.
"I still like Alcaraz a little more than Sinner. I feel like he has a slightly deeper level of talent than Sinner, but they are not far off. What’s great about Sinner is there is never any drama around him on the tennis court. Of course, the whole drug test scenario has come up in the last few months, but he is very calm on court."
"Then you look at Alcaraz and what he has achieved at such a young age is just amazing. I didn’t think would be able to go back-to-back and win the French Open and Wimbledon. Then to back it up with an incredible final against Novak at the Olympics, it was an incredible summer for Alcaraz."
Niland also thinks Alcaraz and Sinner's emergence demonstrates that tennis should not panic so much about losing big names such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who will retire after the Davis Cup Finals.
"We need to back ourselves a bit more as a sport when we lose our big names. We had this when Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe’s rivalry ended and maybe a little with (Boris) Becker and (Stefan) Edberg as well."
"(Pete) Sampras and (Andre) Agassi had a great rivalry, but it was a little in fits and starts and then everyone was worried, naturally, what would happen when the Big 3 or Big 4 were no longer playing, but Alcaraz and Sinner and replaced them."