Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to resume their rivalry on the ATP Tour in 2026, potentially beginning with the Australian Open.
Sinner will return to tennis at the Australian Open in 2026, a tournament the Italian star won in both 2024 and 2025.
Alcaraz will also take on the hard-court Grand Slam, at which he has never made it beyond the quarterfinals.
He has also been rocked by a team change just before the event, with Alcaraz splitting with Juan Carlos Ferrero, his long-term coach.
Alcaraz won the French Open and US Open alongside Ferrero in 2025, while Sinner followed his success in Melbourne by winning Wimbledon.
Why do you think Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero split?
Patrick Mouratoglou says Ben Shelton can ‘maybe’ challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Their dominance on the ATP Tour has now been analysed by Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached WTA legend Serena Williams.
Discussing who can end their dominance in 2026, he told BBC Sport: “I see a lot of guys who can start to become a threat if they progress, but to say this person will be a threat next season is difficult.
“If you look at the margin those two guys have above the other players, it’s difficult to imagine.
“I think the next guy will have to have a huge ego if he wants to be in the mix – so it can be someone like [Ben] Shelton, maybe.
“He will have to make progress but I think his confidence in himself and in his game is big enough.”
Who can challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner with Ben Shelton?
There are certainly a few candidates to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz alongside Shelton, although not a lot.
British number one Jack Draper is arguably in that category, although he simply must shrug off his injury issues to be in contention.
Which American man has the best chance of winning a Grand Slam in 2026?
Felix Auger-Aliassime is perhaps another candidate, having enjoyed a fantastic finish to his 2025 ATP season.
He’s fifth in the world rankings and Draper is 10th, while rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca represents another potential challenger to the current dominance of the top two.
But world number nine Shelton is arguably the main contender right now, with a strong start at the Australian Open on the cards after his semifinal run in 2025.
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