Despite having won Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz is still some distance off being the world number one.
That position is now held by Jannik Sinner, who despite being dumped out of the competition by his 21-year-old rival, was blessed by a second-round exit in the 2023 iteration, which made his points haul that much loftier.
Now the top two players in the world according to the refreshed rankings, it is unlikely that Alcaraz will topple the 22-year-old due to having to defend a title victory at Wimbledon and a semi-final at the US Open.
However, across the next decade, the two are expected to trade that place frequently as they battle at the apex of the sport for the foreseeable future.
Mats Wilander comments on Jannik Sinner being number one in the world
And yet, speaking to SportFace just yesterday, pundit and former world number one Mats Wilander was rather scathing in his assessment of Sinner.
After all, despite the 2024 Australian Open winner ascending to the apex of the ATP rankings last week with his French Open semi-final defeat, the Swedish media star remained somewhat sceptical about whether he deserved that spot.
And, despite the legendary Serbian relinquishing it with his retirement from the tournament, with Novak Djokovic’s injury a worrying one, it was Alcaraz who he actually felt was more deserving of the crown.
Wilander noted: ‘Carlos Alcaraz has shown that he does not have to play his best tennis to win. He will be able to win many more Slams thanks to his aggressive game and the great courage he shows in important points.
‘The match result always depends on his performance. Sinner is World #1 only because of the ‘computer’, but Alcaraz is better.’
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be a historic rivalry
Although their Roland Garros affair was not quite at the level we have come to expect from the two, likely given both were hampered by prior injuries, it still produced some spectacular points in a five-set thriller which ebbed and flowed.
With the Italian racing into a two sets to one lead, despite complaints of cramping, it was the Spaniard who came out victorious, setting up a clash with Alexander Zverev in the final, which he would win.
In doing so, he became the youngest man to have ever won a Grand Slam title on each of the three main surfaces, adding to his hard-court triumph at the US Open in 2022, and his grass-court success at Wimbledon last year.
He will be hoping to defend that latter crown just next month, but will likely once again face stiff competition from Sinner, who reached the semi finals last year.
These two are the outstanding players of their generation, and it is remarkable how they have already surpassed the bulk of those who came before them like Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev, just to name a few.
They are destined for two historic careers, and therefore their rivalry across the next decade or so will likely be one for the ages too.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
