The year-ending ATP and WTA Tour finals gave an indication of the likely tennis scenario in 2026. While the stage is set for another engrossing duel for supremacy between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the men’s event, the women’s event will continue to be an open field with those at the top of the rankings changing every now and then and with the Grand Slams being distributed by different players, says Partab Ramchand
Carlos Alcaraz who ended the season as the No. 1 ranked player and Jannik Sinner who at No. 2 is not very far behind are so far ahead of the rest of the field that it is difficult to see a serious challenger to them emerging next year. One single fact emphasises their marked superiority – they have won the last eight Grand Slams between them. Yes, throughout two full years they have been unstoppable. The last player other than Alcaraz or Sinner to win a Grand Slam has been Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open.
In addition, Alcaraz has won two other Grand Slams in 2022 and 2023 showcasing his prodigious talent during the closing stages of the dominance of the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic while still in his teens. He has won Wimbledon, French Open and US Open twice each and has found only the Australian Open a major hurdle, never having got past the quarter finals.
Sinner, on the other hand, has won the Australian Open twice and the US Open and Wimbledon once each, besides reaching the French Open final this year. He has also won the ATP Tour finals two years running in 2024 and again this year. Alcaraz’s best at this prestigious year-ending tournament has been a runner-up spot this year. Both have exchanged places at the top of the rankings several times. Their already intense rivalry has been described as “potentially era-defining” though at the moment Alcaraz enjoys a 10-6 advantage after 16 meetings across the net.
The 22-year-old Spaniard and the 24-year-old Italian have one thing in common – they are both from Europe which has dominated men’s tennis since the start of the New Millennium. But while stretching this dominance, they provide an interesting contrast in their background and style of play. Sinner is an aggressive baseliner and is one of the hardest hitters on the circuit. His groundstroke strength is his two handed backhand which he hits with more top spin than any other player. He has often been compared to Federer for his calm demenour and smooth movements on the court. Federer himself has praised Sinner remarking “what I like about him is that he almost has the same speed of hitting from the forehand and backhand”. A good skier, Sinner has been compared to Djokovic, who also credits a background in skiing for improving his tennis skills.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, is an all-court player but primarily employs an aggressive baseline style of play. His forehand is typically his most potent shot. He can either hit it flat and fast for winners from every position on the court or add a great amount of top-spin. Due to his aggression, Alcaraz typically generates a high count of both winners and unforced errors off his groundstrokes.
Alcaraz has a powerful first serve for his height (he stands six feet compared to Sinner who is three inches taller) and often adds top-spin to his second serve in order to generate a high bounce. He also has an impressive net game with excellent drop volleys and drive volleys. His well disguised drop-shot is a vital element in his game. Andy Roddick has said that “the Alcaraz drop-shot is the best in the history of tennis”. Indeed, it is reckoned that Alcaraz is responsible for rising drop-shot usage across the circuit in recent years.
Alcaraz has also earned acclaim for his athletic and physical traits. In particular, his speed and the manner in which he darts across the court has earned him comparisons with Nadal. He has also been compared with Djokovic for the way he slides through the court in defensive play. Also, like Federer, his exceptional touch-play has been crucial in his success. Djokovic has paid Alcaraz the ultimate tribute in saying that he combines “the best of all three worlds” from his game, Federer’s and Nadal’s.
So, other than these two dominating the year, what else can be expected in 2026? Alexander Zverev is third-ranked but he is clearly past his best and occupies a high position purely on his vast experience. It is to Djokovic’s credit that he finishes the year at No 4. He missed the ATP Tour finals because of injury. All the same, 2026 could well be his swan song. It is a tribute to his skill, fitness and determination that he has lasted so long but the knowledge that a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title is well beyond him could well prompt the Serb, 39 next year, to call it a day.
The women’s field continues to be open as it has been for some years now. Ever since the exit of Serena Wlliams, there has been no real dominant player around the WTA circuit. The player at the top of the rankings keeps changing every now and then and the Grand Slams are distributed almost every year by four different players. This year was no exception. In fact, all the five major competitions – including the WTA Tour finals – were won by five different players. It is this close competition that keeps interest in women’s tennis alive for, to be candid, none of the players have the charisma, the aura and the record that their predecessors like Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams possessed.
(The writer is a veteran sports writer who spent his career working for The Indian Express and The Telegraph and Sportsworld.)
from Webdoux