Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the two top players in world tennis at the moment, with their dominance evident in 2025.
Sinner was praised by Alcaraz after beating him at the ATP Finals last weekend, with the Italian finally getting one over the Spaniard, who pipped him to the US Open title in August.
Although the Sinner and Alcaraz rivalry is gripping, there is a sense that more competition is required to make it truly special, much like when Novak Djokovic burst on the scene to pinch titles from Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
With the Australian Open on the horizon, talk has turned towards who might win the title, with many starting to choose who might win it should it not be Sinner or Alcaraz for a change.
Rennae Stubbs picks who could win the Australian Open if not Sinner or Alcaraz
Naturally, all eyes will be on Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, given that it might be his best chance of winning another major title.
Lorenzo Musetti praised Djokovic after losing to him in the final of the Athens Open, with the Serbian player withdrawing from the ATP Finals just moments after his latest title.
Now, Stubbs believes that Djokovic is the best-placed player after Alcaraz and Sinner to make a genuine go of winning the title in Melbourne.
She said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast: “I do think that Novak is setting his sights [on Australia]. I don’t think he cared about the ATP Finals, clearly, he didn’t play it.
“I think he is going to put all this time and effort into busting his a— one last time to win down in Australia.
“I think he is the only one who can rock the apple cart for Jannik and Carlos.
“Carlos has never made the finals there. Novak crushed him last year. There was one set which was really good, but overall Novak was the better player, so I think Novak goes in there going, I know I can potentially get to a semi and final there, and I know I may have one more last grasp.
“I don’t think he beats someone like Jannik on that court. I think Jannik is just too good on that court. But it might be the one place that Novak can.
“There are also injuries. An injury can happen to a player, and there have been a couple of players who have slipped through and won a Grand Slam because a player got injured.”
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Australian Open gives Djokovic best chance of another Grand Slam
Although Djokovic has been dominant on grass during his career, the position where Wimbledon is situated on the schedule, perhaps, doesn’t do the Serb any favours.
Djokovic has claimed 10 Australian Open titles, and given that he chose to skip the ATP Finals, he should come into this one well rested.
Last year, Djokovic brilliantly stunned Alcaraz before being forced to retire injured in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev, and he will hope that history doesn’t repeat itself in that sense.
It would be nice if Djokovic could get a 25th Grand Slam title before his retirement but at 38, he will be under no illusions that time is against him.
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