Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner ‘are of the same calibre’ as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner

Lucas Pouille believes Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are “as strong” as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray on a “tennis level.”

The former world No 10 assessed that the key question is whether Alcaraz and Sinner will be able to match the consistency of the the Big Three or Big Four.

Alcaraz secured his third Grand Slam title at the 2024 French Open earlier this month after defeating Sinner in the semi-finals and Alexander Zverev in the final.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who became the youngest world No 1 in ATP history after winning the 2022 US Open, is currently ranked second.

Sinner overtook Djokovic to become world No 1 for the first time in his career after Roland Garros. The 22-year-old Italian won his maiden Major crown at the 2024 Australian Open.

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In an interview with Tennis Actu, Pouille addressed whether Alcaraz and Sinner could be considered successors to Djokovic, Nadal and Federer.

“It’s impossible to answer… It depends on so many things. The tennis level yes, I think Alcaraz and Sinner are as strong as the [Big] Three,” said the Frenchman.

“The question is whether they will succeed in having the consistency of the Big Three, of the Big Four even. Will they have the consistency to play at a high level week after week? Only the future will tell us.

“Will their motivation drop, will they get injured more or less? It’s very hard to say. Carlos Alcaraz, all he needs is the Australian Open to have the Grand Slam, he will have won all four, at 21 years old. We can say that it is quite extraordinary.

“Today, the two are of the same calibre as the four best we could have had for several years. But whether they will do as well or better, I think we cannot say today.”

The five-time ATP titlist also revealed Alcaraz’s completeness is what impresses him most about the Spanish star and backed him to take tennis to “another dimension.”

“Everything, for me, his ability to know how to do everything. He already serves very well but I think he will serve even better in the future,” Pouille added.

“I find that he manages to be aggressive on both sides, he moves extremely well, he is capable of volleying, making drop shots, defending, attacking.

“I think he is going to be even more and more solid, in making fewer and fewer mistakes as we have seen in recent matches. I think he will push tennis to another dimension. That’s the mark of a great one.”

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