The ‘Sincaraz’ streak at Grand Slams continued at this year’s edition of the Australian Open.
Since the start of the 2024 ATP season, each men’s singles major title has been won by either Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.
Dubbed the ‘new two’, the pair of superstars split all four Grand Slam trophies between them in 2024 and 2025, and now the Spaniard has taken the first of 2026.
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However, after three consecutive tournaments of Alcaraz and Sinner contesting major finals, they did not meet in the championship match at Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic, at 38, finished as the runner-up at the Australian Open, and lead Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend thinks the Serb still remains the biggest threat to the top two.
Jonathan Overend discusses the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Speaking to Tennis 365, Overend said: “You look at Alexander Zverev serving for the match against Alcaraz at the Australian Open, and you have to say he was so close and yet still so far away.
“In a way, it was predictable what happened in that service game, and that told me he is still so far away from breaking his duck, which is why I say Djokovic is still the main challenger to Alcaraz and Sinner.
“You’re looking at players who can disrupt, who can get a win, you know, a bit like [Botic] van de Zandschulp against Alcaraz a couple of years ago [at the US Open], even though admittedly Alcaraz now has stabilised in the early rounds of Slams.
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“You’re thinking, who could take Alcaraz or Sinner out early? And is that more likely than a Zverev, for example, winning at the back end of a Slam?
“I still think that is more likely. I think the pressure is on those younger players coming through. The big challenger to Sinner Alcaraz? We might not know about them yet.”
The main challengers to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Outside of Djokovic, there are a number of players on the tour who are capable of challenging Alcaraz and Sinner at majors.
World number four Alexander Zverev came close to beating Alcaraz at the Australian Open, with the German having been one game away from doing so.
Ben Shelton, aged 23, is still developing his game, and after hitting a career-high ranking of fifth in the world, the American looks a threat to the new two.
After returning from injury, Jack Draper will take some time to get going again, but the Briton proved what he is capable of last year and is certainly one to watch in the upcoming Grand Slams.
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