Wilander with a BOMBSHELL statement: "When Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has played better tennis"

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
Wilander SENDING the whole tennis world in SHOCK, read HERE:

Full comments in Link.


“They are following in the footsteps of the 'Big Three' in terms of level,” Wilander said.


“I hope Roger, Novak, and Rafa are not listening, but in terms of level, when Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis, that the tennis ball has done more different, complicated, difficult things than the ball is doing between Sinner and Alcaraz.”

 

Djokodalerer31

Hall of Fame
Recency bias at it's finest, whoever are the current ones who played at high level seem like the ones - "who played tennis better than anyone else before" if you truly want to compare, you can always pull the archives featuring old big-3 matches especially between Fedal between 2005 and 2007...even their masters 1000 encounters were on such levels, that are unparalleled and unequaled and i say this as Djokovic fan first and foremost! Highest level of tennis ever played was between 2005 and 2012...this is where tennis was at it's highest, especially when all three were in their comparable relative peaks in 2011-2012...
 

Sputnik Bulgorov

Professional
As if Nadal didn’t beat Alcaraz months before he won the US Open (on HC) at age 36 with a cracked rib :X3:
In addition to 36 yo Nadal beating Alcaraz with a cracked rib, 34/35 yo Nadal never dropped a set to Sinner. 37 yo Djokovic also beat Alcaraz less than 2 months after knee surgery and 36 yo Djokovic routined Sinner at Wimbledon and the WTF. But yes, these guys would have no problem with Nadal and Djokovic at their peak.
 

Torben

Semi-Pro
I don't know if Best of 3 matches in a format like the Olympics in which Djokovic poured everything into is the best indication of this. Sinner and Alcaraz beat him handily at slams in 2024.
Good post.

Djokovic fans always say slams matter and Alcaraz and Sinner beat him handily in slam finals in 2024 you mentioned.
 

Slingshot

New User
I don't know if Best of 3 matches in a format like the Olympics in which Djokovic poured everything into is the best indication of this. Sinner and Alcaraz beat him handily at slams in 2024.
But THIS IS THE HISTORIC PEAK OF TENNIS isn't exactly well reflected by one of them losing to a 37 year old and a 38 year old in the last couple of months. It's obvious hyperbole.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Lol....you wouldn't think a former tennis great would be subject to recency bias. Mats does tend to get a bit over-excited now and again with his bombshell claims!
 

Winner Sinner

Semi-Pro
He's right. I don't know if this rivalry will reach the peaks in overall level of other great past rivalries, but in terms of spectacularity they actually seem like something never seen before. In the mix of balance, constant reversals of faces, exchanges never seen before, supersonic speed of the shots, it really seems like we are witnessing a tennis match that perhaps the younger ones will be able to watch continuously in 2074.
 

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
He's right. I don't know if this rivalry will reach the peaks in overall level of other great past rivalries, but in terms of spectacularity they actually seem like something never seen before. In the mix of balance, constant reversals of faces, exchanges never seen before, supersonic speed of the shots, it really seems like we are witnessing a tennis match that perhaps the younger ones will be able to watch continuously in 2074.
You might be right in terms of power. They are really powerful crazy.

Power is very important part of the game.
 
If they’re being paid for their “expertise” and hyping the game you take everything they say with a grain of salt. Djokovic and Nadal dominating into their late 30’s blows all these arguments out of the water. Old Nadal was beating Carlos. Djoker is beating Carlos this year and beat sinner last year. Etc etc
 

Neptune

Hall of Fame
vs Top5​
T5 Weight​
vs Top10​
T10 Weight​
vs T11+​
T11+ Weight​
vs All​
Slam​
Mac​
131 (64-67) 48.85%​
12.66%​
214 (125-89) 58.41%​
20.68%​
821 (727-94) 88.55%​
79.32%​
1035 (852-183) 82.32%​
7​
Lendl​
158 (95-63) 60.13%​
12.05%​
257 (164-93) 63.81%​
19.60%​
1054 (905-149) 85.86%​
80.40%​
1311 (1069-242) 81.54%​
8​
Wilander
68 (29-39) 42.65%
8.59%
128 (64-64) 50.00%
16.16%
664 (505-159) 76.05%
83.84%
792 (569-223) 71.84%
7
Edberg​
122 (49-73) 40.16%​
11.35%​
212 (99-113) 46.70%​
19.72%​
863 (705-158) 81.69%​
80.28%​
1075 (804-271) 74.79%​
6​
Becker​
110 (68-42) 61.82%​
11.87%​
187 (121-66) 64.71%​
20.17%​
740 (592-148) 80.00%​
79.83%​
927 (713-214) 76.91%​
6​
Agassi​
118 (63-55) 53.39%​
10.31%​
199 (109-90) 54.77%​
17.40%​
945 (761-184) 80.53%​
82.60%​
1144 (870-274) 76.05%​
8​
Murray
124 (53-71) 42.74%
12.39%
201 (105-96) 52.24%
20.08%
800 (634-166) 79.25%
79.92%
1001 (739-262) 73.83%
3

Wilander must be smiling all day, every day, watching the hivemind obsess over slam counts alone.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
He's right. I don't know if this rivalry will reach the peaks in overall level of other great past rivalries, but in terms of spectacularity they actually seem like something never seen before. In the mix of balance, constant reversals of faces, exchanges never seen before, supersonic speed of the shots, it really seems like we are witnessing a tennis match that perhaps the younger ones will be able to watch continuously in 2074.

In 2074??? Wow!!!:p
 

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
Carlos CAN become the GOAT if I am honest to myself.

Now it's too far away so I won't think about it. But it's possible, it's very much possible like our nolefams would say in 2010s
 
Carlos CAN become the GOAT if I am honest to myself.

Now it's too far away so I won't think about it. But it's possible, it's very much possible like our nolefams would say in 2010s

It’s only possible if the rest of the field stays crummy with guys like Fritz etc. if sinner keeps leveling up and a few other great players come along, no chance for Carlos. Fed looked unbeatable too until 3 other greats came along
 

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
It’s only possible if the rest of the field stays crummy with guys like Fritz etc. if sinner keeps leveling up and a few other great players come along, no chance for Carlos
This is empty promise if sinner is going 0-3 down this year.

When he had chances he lost. All 3 times he wom first set and still end up with nothing.
 

Slingshot

New User
You might be right in terms of power. They are really powerful crazy.

Power is very important part of the game.
Wilander said no one's ever played better tennis. It's not about power. There were more powerful players than The Big 3 — it's not why they were great.

Although I do agree that the Sinner/Alcaraz matchup creates spectacular, pummelling points. It's a kind of heightened version of the modern athletic baseline game; and Alcaraz is the one with the added magic.
 

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
Wilander said no one's ever played better tennis. It's not about power. There were more powerful players than ‘The Big 3’ — it's not why they were great.

Although I do agree that the Sinner/Alcaraz matchup creates spectacular, pummelling points. It's a kind of heightened version of the modern athletic baseline; and Alcaraz is the one with the extra magic.
Sinner is delpo on roids.

Carlos is Fed skills combined with Nadal's athleticism.
 

Pheasant

Legend
I hope that Sinneraz are indeed following in the footsteps of the Big 3. But keep in mind that it's a very long journey. And a journey like that can be derailed in a New York minute with an unlucky injury. So I'm not holding my breath, even though I recognize that these two players are something special; the most talented since the Big 3.

And honestly, I hope that they hit levels never seen. What tennis fan wouldn't want that?
 

Winner Sinner

Semi-Pro
The Fedal rivalry, which was earlier than the subsequent ones which also included Djokovic, achieved a full haul of single season slams for the first time in 2006, when their combined age was 45 years. So Sinneraz did it even earlier (44 years old). But I repeat that what separates their rivalry from the others of the big three is the pathos due to the uncertainty of the prediction regardless of the surface. Only Fedjokic had these requirements, the problem being that for age reasons (six years difference) their peaks only came close. The Sinneraz rivalry has every possible requirement imaginable to become the top of the list, including the fact that at the moment there is no one on the horizon who can overlap. It is absolutely not certain that they too will have the third wheel in place in Djokovic, but perhaps not even Murray. The superiority they currently exude compared to their contemporaries in relation to their age is objectively embarrassing. I mean, they have world tennis in check despite the older of the two being Sinner who is only 23 years old. If the big three took turns leaving only crumbs on the table to their contemporaries, these two threaten to take the whole table and crumbs included.
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
Oh Mats.
Mats, . . . Mats, . . . Mats. Slow down.

Take a deep breath.
Things will get back to normal in about five minutes or so.
 

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
The Fedal rivalry, which was earlier than the subsequent ones which also included Djokovic, achieved a full haul of single season slams for the first time in 2006, when their combined age was 45 years. So Sinneraz did it even earlier (44 years old). But I repeat that what separates their rivalry from the others of the big three is the pathos due to the uncertainty of the prediction regardless of the surface. Only Fedjokic had these requirements, the problem being that for age reasons (six years difference) their peaks only came close. The Sinneraz rivalry has every possible requirement imaginable to become the top of the list, including the fact that at the moment there is no one on the horizon who can overlap. It is absolutely not certain that they too will have the third wheel in place in Djokovic, but perhaps not even Murray. The superiority they currently exude compared to their contemporaries in relation to their age is objectively embarrassing. I mean, they have world tennis in check despite the older of the two being Sinner who is only 23 years old. If the big three took turns leaving only crumbs on the table to their contemporaries, these two threaten to take the whole table and crumbs included.
And Sinner is 23.2 just. He will play 3 more slams before turning 24.


ANDY MURRAY the "ATG" won his first grand slam after turning 25.4
 

iopzzza

Rookie
Nowhere near close. Big 3 at they're prime would school those kids. Those are great, though, probably at Ferrer/Berdych level of 2010-2013
 

jl809

Legend
Too many new users on this site getting pressed over a Wilander quote. It’s Wilander guys, you can basically take the exact opposite of anything he says as true. Just like Patrick Moron
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Wilander is the best troll in tennis. He does punditry like he did playing, i.e. playing the percentages. At the moment, the Sinner controversy is hurting present day tennis, so Wilander tries to bend the stick in the "this is the best era" direction.
 

GoatNo1

Hall of Fame
In addition to 36 yo Nadal beating Alcaraz with a cracked rib, 34/35 yo Nadal never dropped a set to Sinner. 37 yo Djokovic also beat Alcaraz less than 2 months after knee surgery and 36 yo Djokovic routined Sinner at Wimbledon and the WTF. But yes, these guys would have no problem with Nadal and Djokovic at their peak.
nole beat both raz and sinner in consecutive matches at last WTF in SF and F. both in pretty convincing 2 sets
 
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