Despite his stunning start to 2024, there is one man who Nick Lester thinks will have a bigger year than Jannik Sinner.
It might seem a bold claim to suggest anyone will enjoy more success than the 22-year-old, who has finally broken his duck and added that elite piece of silverware to his cabinet.
But, what makes the notion even more outlandish is that Novak Djokovic is nowhere to be seen in the Sky Sports commentator’s prediction.
So who does Lester actually think can enjoy a better year than the 2024 Australian Open winner, despite this headstart? We take a closer look…
Who could have a better year than Jannik Sinner?
Naturally, there are many candidates for stars at the apex of the game who could enjoy a fine season.
And aside from the likes of Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, there are outsiders who might also pose a threat, with Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev and Tommy Paul all in good form of late.
However, and rather unsurprisingly, it is Carlos Alcaraz who stands out as Sinner’s main competition, with the two likely bound to be compared throughout their entire careers due to the youth and unbridled talent they share.
Well, Lester has since claimed: ‘I wouldn’t rule out Carlos to have a bigger year than Sinner from this point forward.
‘He didn’t play great against Zverev at the Australian Open, but the level that was coming at him in the first two sets was very high.
‘Alcaraz is such an aggressive player and there were periods in that match where the aggression is slightly off. He has periods in matches where he struggles to put it all together and the guys he is up against will punish that.’
Alcaraz and Sinner: A rivalry for the ages
As aforementioned, these two are set to star alongside one another for the next decade, as the outstanding shining light of their generation.
Although Djokovic has proved to be a tough stumbling block to overwhelm thus far, when he does call time on his legendary career, there will be a power vacuum which must be filled.
Then, it is expected that one of Alcaraz and Sinner will step up and succeed the great Serbian.
The former would naturally be the favourite, as the younger and more decorated of the two. After all, the 20-year-old has already tasted Grand Slam success on two occasions, in the US Open and Wimbledon, and at a much younger age than Sinner too.
However, as Djokovic noted last month, the 22-year-old is in the form of his life. Should he maintain it, Lester could swiftly be proven wrong as Sinner slides into the ascendency over his Spanish friend and rival.
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