Penton: ’New two’ in tennis are a dominant pair
By Bruce Penton
There’s more of a difference between professional golf and professional tennis than the size of the ball. And there’s a huge difference between the two sports when it comes to competitive dominance.
In tennis, what used to be the Big Three — Roger Federer of Switzerland, Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic — has now crystallized into the New Two, featuring two stars in their early 20s. The Big Three won 67 Grand Slam events in the first 20-odd years of the 21st Century. By comparison, the four golf majors have been won by a massive number of players over the same period, although Scottie Scheffler lately has been threatening to turn pro golf into a Big One.
Today's Big Two in tennis features Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannick Sinner of Italy, who have split the last six Grand Slam events. It was no surprise that the two faced off in the French Open final at Roland Garros in early June and played a classic match that lasted an exhaustive five hours and 29 minutes. Alcaraz, who lost the first two sets, won the next three in what some tennis observers are calling one of the best tennis matches of all time.
For most of the 21st century, chances were good that either Federer, Nadal or Djokovic would emerge as champion of a Grand Slam tennis event. Eventually, Djokovic captured 24 Grand Slam titles, more than anyone in the history of the sport. Nadal has 21 and Federer 20.
But that — the Big Three — was then. This — Alcaraz and Sinner — is now. It’s no surprise to check the world tennis rankings and find Sinner at No. 1 and Alcaraz at No. 2. Considering their ages (Alcaraz 22 and Sinner 23), it’s safe to assume tennis fans will see these two stars go head to head in Grand Slam finals regularly over the next decade or so.
“Three winners today,” said the retired Federer on X — referring to the two finalists and the "beautiful game of tennis.”
Next up on the Grand Slam calendar is Wimbledon in London, where Alcaraz won last year by beating Djokovic in the final. When the U.S. Open is staged in New York in August, it will be Sinner trying to defend the title he won in 2024.
"i feel like it’s always great when we meet,” said Sinner following the French Open final. “We try to push ourself and each other to the limits.”
Meanwhile, the former Big 3 of tennis is no more. Federer retired in 2022; Nadal followed in 2024 and Djokovic has hinted that 2025 could be his final year. Between the three of them, they have 65 Grand Slam titles. Alcaraz and Sinner have only seven, but in the next 10 years, there will be 40 Grand Slam events and it’s quite possible the top two players in the world will win more than their share.
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Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca