After Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retired, and the “Big 3” rivalry between Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic came to an end, many wondered whether we would see such a rivalry again for a while.
Tennis fans didn’t have to wait too long, though, as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have rapidly emerged as the next top tier in tennis, with an incredible rivalry that could easily match the rivalry of the Big 3 era. While Alcaraz leads the overall meetings 10-5, Sinner snapped a five-match losing streak against him with his Wimbledon victory before Alcaraz won the most recent US Open final.
Read below to find out more about these two incredible players and how their rivalry is shaping the current era and the future of tennis.
Who are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz was born on May 5, 2003, in El Palmar, Spain and is currently the number one player in the world. Alcaraz is renowned for his speed and aggressive style. He is a multiple Grand Slam champion, including titles at the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023), French Open (2024), and US Open (2025). At 19, he became the youngest player to reach the world No. 1 ranking in the Open Era, a feat he achieved after winning the 2022 US Open.
Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner was born on August 16, 2001, in San Candido, Italy. Sinner is known as an aggressive, versatile baseliner with heavy and penetrating groundstrokes (particularly his powerful double-handed backhand) and the ability to take the ball on the rise to attack. He is a former world No. 1, with multiple Grand Slam titles including two Australian Open and one Wimbledon, a 2024 ATP Finals championship, and two Davis Cup wins for Italy. He was a talented skier before his tennis career, before switching to tennis full-time to tennis at age 13
The New Rivalry
Sinner and Alcaraz are the first men born in the 21st century to compete in major finals, a dynamic that highlights a changing era in men's tennis. The two players have continued the dominance of the Big 3, emerging as the “new” big rivalry in the game. While 23 grand slam champion Novak Djokovic (and part of the “Big 3” rivalry) is still playing, he has been unable to match the energy and youth of SinCaraz, and Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated all other opposition over the last 2 years.
Why is the Rivalry Already “Box Office”?
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has already captured the public imagination, characterised by fierce on-court battles, constant push to improve, and frequent clashes on the biggest stages, including multiple major finals.
While Alcaraz currently leads the head-to-head record 10-5, the rivalry in the last two years has been balanced, as the two players have split the last four Grand Slam finals, with each player winning two, marking it a defining generational rivalry.
Key Aspects of the Rivalry
Memorable Grand Slam Finals
This year (2025) has seen the Sincaraz rivalry go to a new level. The two players contested three major finals in a row (French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same year, a feat unmatched by any other duo since 2008.
The 2025 French Open final is already considered as one of the best grand Slam finals ever, which saw Alcaraz save 3 consecutive championship points, the most in a men's major final in the Open Era and overturn a two-set deficit to claim his fifth major. The skills level, intensity and grit on display during the final were awe-inspiring, and it ended up as the longest French Open final in history and the second-longest major final, behind only the 2012 Australian Open men's singles final.
Sinner gained his revenge in the 2025 Wimbledon final, winning 4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4. Alcaraz then hit back immediately in the 2025 US Open final, winning 2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4. While these matches were not as competitive as the Roland Garros final, the quality of tennis on display was still electrifying, fast and fierce, often described as the highest level of tennis being played at the moment.
Driving Each Other To New Heights
The intense competition pushes both players to reach new heights, with Alcaraz stating the rivalry forces him to be "better" and reach a higher level to beat Sinner. After losses, both players are known for studying matches and implementing changes to improve, a strategy Alcaraz believes he and Sinner will continue to do against each other.
The hunger to be the best is further amplified by the carrot of obtaining the number one position, with both players currently dominating the number one ranking and fighting hard to keep that coveted status.
Get Your Rivalry On
With the rivalry between Sincaraz still in its early stages (relatively speaking), tennis and sports fans can look forward to many more years of incredible tennis between these legends in the making, assuming they both stay healthy and fit. You can Get Your Game On and bet on all their matches at www.gbets.co.za, with countless tennis matches and tournaments available for betting. Have a smashing time!