Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: Nothing separating rivals who will solely get higher in 2026, says Gigi Salmon

Gigi Salmon displays on how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner cleaned up in 2025 and what’s to return from the highest two gamers on the boys’s tour in 2026? The commentator weighs up who can compete with the world No 1 and No 2 in her newest Sky Sports activities column.

Within the phrases of my 10-year-old boys, ‘wait, what?’ These two phrases instantly got here to thoughts when a truth was unearthed by tennis journalist Bastien Fachan the day after the ATP Finals that was gained by defending champion Sinner, that highlighted there actually is nothing to separate the Italian and his arch-rival Alcaraz.

The ultimate in Turin was the sixteenth profession assembly between the 2 standout gamers.

Over the course of their rivalry they’ve performed 3,302 factors in opposition to one another with each profitable 1,651.

I will not blame you in the event you return and browse that final sentence once more, I learn the publish on X by Bastien a few instances, however remarkably it’s true and ultimately feels becoming particularly if you examine it to the head-to-head which seems to be a contact lopsided with Alcaraz main 10-6 and 4-2 this 12 months, with all six of these conferences coming in finals.

With each gamers now having shut down their 2025 season – Sinner by way of selection and Alcaraz by way of damage – lacking the Davis Cup Finals, they’ve each put collectively one other very spectacular 12 months.

The 2025 season will go down as Alcaraz’s finest season up to now: 12 months-end No 1 for a second time, which was confirmed on the Tour finals. 71 wins, eight titles from 11 finals with simply 9 defeats, including one other two Grand Slam titles taking his profession Grand Slam whole to 6 and all on the age of simply 22.

Sinner’s season was no much less spectacular when you think about that he spent three months sidelined as a result of his suspension however was nonetheless within the working to finish the 12 months as world No 1 proper up till the ultimate occasion.

His numbers noticed him decide up 58 wins, six titles from 10 finals with simply six defeats. He additionally added one other two Grand Slam titles in Australia and Wimbledon. From the 12 occasions he entered he solely didn’t make the ultimate on two events and is now on a run of 31 matches unbeaten indoors.

The great thing about this rivalry is that they proceed to push one another, Alcaraz beat Sinner in a fifth-set tie-breaker within the French Open ultimate; Sinner obtained revenge at Wimbledon. Alcaraz gained once more on the US Open, after which Sinner stated he needed to be much less predictable and add selection after which Sinner defended his ATP Finals title earlier than his house followers in Turin.

One factor that stood out from Sinner in Turin was his serve, one thing he spoke of after his loss within the ultimate in New York.

“I’m going to change a couple of things on the serve, just small things, but you know, they can make big differences.”

So within the full glare of the continuing season and a run that noticed Sinner lose only one match following the US Open ultimate defeat for the remainder of the marketing campaign and decide up 4 titles, he made the modifications with coach Simone Vagnozzi.

“We changed the motion. We changed the rhythm. He served really well from Shanghai until here, on the serve, we changed a lot of things after the US Open. We are lucky to have Jannik, who is really fast to improve, to understand the changes and everything.”

We all know that Alcaraz and Sinner will proceed to enhance and get higher and within the phrases of Felix Auger Aliassime: “The facts are they’re a level above everyone, the ranking doesn’t lie. They’re the two best players. That’s the facts. Different game styles, but both put extreme pressure on their opponent in different ways. They keep showing up and playing good, so credit to them.”

Who’s going to problem the highest two and is there anybody who can?

As issues stand Sascha Zverev is the third-best participant on the planet and he’s nearer in factors to the world No 1,000 Enzo Kohlmann de Freitas (5,144) than he’s to Sinner (6,340).

And whereas nobody doubts the expertise of Zverev as a number of Slam finalist, plainly his scar tissue runs deep and for individuals who thought 2025 may very well be the 12 months, various those self same folks are actually undecided if he’ll ever win one!

Subsequent on the listing is Novak Djokovic who remains to be on the hunt for Grand Slam title No 25 and after an amazing 12 months that noticed him attain the semi-finals in all 4 majors, he has proven he can nonetheless combine it with the perfect. However on the age of 38, with a schedule that can solely proceed to get lighter and no actual curiosity within the rankings anymore, a problem is unlikely.

The remainder of the present prime 10 is made up of Auger Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Alex De Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Ben Shelton and possibly the one participant who may do one thing – Jack Draper.

A left arm damage introduced his season to an in depth on the US Open throughout a 12 months that has seen him win his first Masters title, attain the ultimate of one other and climb as much as a profession excessive of world No 4.

He beat Alcaraz within the semi-finals of Indian Wells for his second profession win over the Spaniard and he is a win apiece with Sinner.

Draper returns to motion on the UTS Grand Closing which you’ll watch dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis, our first sighting of the Brit following his damage and with new coach Jamie Delgado, after confirming his cut up with long-time coach James Trotman who he known as a ‘particular man’ in a publish on Instagram.

However with that every one being stated it will take a courageous particular person to go exterior of Alcaraz and Sinner for the most important titles in 2026.

So with the ATP wrapped up for the winter, subsequent time I might be trying again on the power within the depth of the WTA tour, along with a round-up of a number of the Brit motion from 2025.

Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions in 2026, dwell on Sky Sports activities or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.