With three and a half months of the 2026 season played, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner remain, by far, the two best players in men’s tennis.
After dominating the tour in 2025, the ‘new two’ still hold a commanding lead at the top of the ATP rankings, with points tallies north of 13,000.
Every big title this season has been won by either Sinner or Alcaraz this year, with the Spaniard capturing an elusive Australian Open crown, while the Italian has hoisted three Masters 1000 trophies.
Will Jannik Sinner win more Grand Slams than Carlos Alcaraz in 2026?
Which Grand Slams will Jannik Sinner win this year?
Several players on the ATP Tour have been tipped as the ‘third guy’ to challenge the two stars, but tennis legend Boris Becker thinks there are only three who have a genuine chance of doing so.
Boris Becker discusses the best players outside the top two
As per Tennis 365, Becker said: “I’m still particularly keen to look at the younger players. I really like Arthur Fils’ return after being injured for a long time last year.
“I like how he’s playing this year. Final in Doha, semi-final in Miami. At 21, if he stays in good physical condition, I think he can challenge Alcaraz and Sinner for a Grand Slam title in the future. He just needs to avoid further injuries and keep going like this.
“I also really like Learner Tien, who is 20 and improving very quickly. The fact that Michael Chang agreed to coach him speaks volumes. With him, he’ll improve even more.
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“And then there’s also [Joao] Fonseca, of course. He’s had some good tournaments, but I think his future is even brighter.
“All these players still need to refine their game. They need to be there when it really counts. Not just in practice or in the quarter-finals of every tournament.
“They need to be present in the semifinals of major tournaments. That’s where Sinner and Alcaraz are at their strongest.”
Where Learner Tien, Joao Fonseca and Arthur Fils rank in the world
Learner Tien, Joao Fonseca and Arthur Fils have all made great progress on the ATP Tour already at such young ages.
The oldest of the three, Fils, has achieved a career-high ranking of 14th in the world, and is currently 29th in the live rankings, aged 21.
Tien, 20 years of age, currently holds his career-high ranking on the tour, placed 21st in the world after a solid 2026 campaign so far.
Finally, Fonseca, who is still 19 years old, is ranked 31st in the world at the moment; a position that will see him seeded for Grand Slams.
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