Wilander with a BOMBSHELL statement: "When Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has played better tennis"
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Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Not going to lie, I am starting to think these guys are better in the baseline game. They just hit it so hard and usually pretty consistently.
That said, they do not have the variety, so I would not say the best tennis has ever been played. But for baseline specifics, possibly.
That said, they do not have the variety, so I would not say the best tennis has ever been played. But for baseline specifics, possibly.
Bubcay
Legend
Recency bias mate. Go and watch some vintage stuff.. It's not even close..
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
I lived it. The variety makes for better tennis not doubt, but the baseline power is just as good if not better.
But you are right, as more time goes on you forget, so definitely could be recency bias.
Bubcay
Legend
I know you did mate and I don't doubt your honesty in perception but I just recently re-watched several matches played by peak Fed, Nole and Rafa. My god how good they were... I have shed a few tears I have to admit... No doubt Sincaraz are great, I just think Fedalovic were better...
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
For now I agree. What are three odd years of brilliant tennis years by two compared to roughly two decades of big 3?
Time will tell, but so far nothing can compare…
The consequence of conditions. It would be shocking if today's players didn't have more solidity and power in the baseline game, off both wings, than the average player 20-25 years ago, for it's the specific game they've trained for their whole lives. Because of the broad racket heads, the poly strings, and the court consistencies, the sport has been leaning that way since they first picked up a racket. Sinner specifically is the heightened version of that style. So yes, I don't think there's any inferiority in that aspect.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Sinner is 6'4"
Mensik is 6'4"
All new guys are tall enough to make into marvel movies. Even Carlos who we call TINY is almost as tall as Federer.
The landscape has shifted.
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
(posted August 2021)
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Sinner has gone nuclear.
Look at this forehand quality.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Who cares if sinner bores some.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
I think Wilander uses other stuff.
no one cares. i just wont watch him unless he's playing Djokovic or Alcaraz.
ShovelBackhand
New User
I don't think good tennis level is just about what level would beat another. Djokovic was playing great tennis in last year's WTF and in the Olympics final, but he's a solo act. The duo of sinner and alcaraz bring out some transcendent tennis from both men, and it's not ridiculous to say the shot making in their matches are pushing the envelope of tennis even if Djokovic (especially if he was younger) could nullify this if placed on the other side of the net. When I agree with this claim that Sinner and Alcaraz are producing near unparalleled levels of tennis in their matches (not on the level of early fed/nadal and nadal Djokovic just yet), I don't avoid pointing to their own respective performances and results against geriatric Djokovic not just because it contradicts my support. I don't emphasize their results because its really about the spectacle of their matches, and you just got to watch it and enjoy it. Its really not about their level of difficulty they experience in beating similar opponents or respective age feats, just off watching their matches, the tennis is really up there.
welcome2petrkordaland
Professional
Matts Wilander: I have also never snorted better cocaine than what I am now snorting.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Sinner vs Djokovic: Shanghai Final Recap
merry-go-rounds — net instincts — breaking the sideline
hughclarke.substack.com
Sinner is far more attacking than even old Djokovic. Always looking for initiative like alcaraz.
Rafole didn't do that.
zvelf
Hall of Fame
Fans of Djokovic's style just have a greater appreciation of nuanced tennis than you do. Stuff like strategic court positioning, phenomenally deep ball placement, masterful anticipation, knowing when to change ball direction, etc. Not everyone understands tennis well enough to appreciate those aspects.Ultronians never minded snoozefest tennis that's for sure
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Sinner absolutely dominated Djokovic with his +1 forehands. And return +1 shots.
Nadal fans won't understand that. Let them have clay.
I mean all generations in sport are built on the shoulders of the last, Sinner and Alcaraz's games do not exist in a vacuum - that's why it's stupid to say they are "better than anyone else ever" - they have another ten years of new ideas, training, technique and tech that they have built their games around the same as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic built their games around learning from the best of the last generation to make something new and special - it will always happen and its impossible to compare. Theoretically, the leading athletes will always be "better" than the last generation that came before them
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Thank you
90% of posters here think big 3 are gods. That new tennis will be worse than something played 20 years ago. Lol.
Go back and watch 2000s matches. They are slow.
We should always respect the past as you said the sport is built on shoulders of the past legends.
But let's also respect present when they are taking tennis to a new level, as every single sport does
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
This would be incredible shotmaking contest even on grass.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Incredible rallies and skills in one of the greatest matches we have witnessed but also somewhat lower pace and a bit less depth. Imho greater quality of shotmaking by the two legends a dozen years ago, but also on average more time to do the thinking.
In the next meeting Sinner will likely shift towards a heavier attacking ball to take time away from shotmaking.
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nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
As a side note, I know Djokovic and Nadal take a long time between serves but even then , a condensed match between these two is over an hr long.
But I agree to your pt. We should always keep open mind.
What I understood all these years watching tennis is , game is becoming faster and faster. Going from 70s to today. The serves are becoming better and yet serve and volley is difficult.
The intent to move inside the court is high among the leaders of Next Gen that is sinner and alcaraz. They can return the serve like Nadal 10 feet behind baseline ( on slower court ), but they move up so fast.
And the power game has gone up next level.
I remember after 2020 Australia when Djokovic beat Thiem, there was a podcast where the anchor said, the next great guy would need to bring something that no one else ever did before , like Djokovic did with his movement piece here below
The podcaster said , the next great would hit 100 mph forehands regularly or something different. When raz came on the tour , i saw it.
With sinner its more deliberate process as his body was not ready but now he has gone maybe even higher than alcaraz. These guys are taking the game to the next level
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Gill gross just yesterday said Alcaraz is going to win more slams than sampras.
I think both sinner and raz can win 10+ slams. we don't need to fear the past so much.
I think both sinner and raz can win 10+ slams. we don't need to fear the past so much.
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Cabeza del Demonio
Professional
Wilander really went from the game's quietest champion to the game's most famous yapperWilander 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.”
:focal(1652x410:1654x408)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/02/image-9ceee75f-8a62-40db-b711-121a85886869-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'I hope Roger, Novak and Rafa aren't listening' – Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry gets highest praise
Mats Wilander says matches between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner should be considered amongst “the best sporting events ever” after their China Open final.www.eurosport.com
good for him though, at least we're all getting quality entertainment out of it.
TheFifthSet
Legend
Sinner is not 6’4, regardless of what the listing is. He’s about an inch taller than Djokovic.
There’s a smaller gap between Sinner (6’2.50-6’2.75) and Djokovic (6’1.50) than Federer (6’0.75-6’1) and Alcaraz (5’11).
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Zverev point blank says sineraz has changed tennis and it's no longer about defense anymore. Few years back it was.
Just my opinion. Few years back rafole were top 2.
From 3:30 onwards. Sineraz are changing tennis.
Just my opinion. Few years back rafole were top 2.
From 3:30 onwards. Sineraz are changing tennis.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Few years back tennis was slow and about defense. Zverev says.
Everyone with clear unbiased eyes can see he is telling the truth.
Everyone with clear unbiased eyes can see he is telling the truth.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Much harder to reason when you get hit by a whirlwind.
Smart take of Zverev and I expect more players trying to out-aggro Alcaraz especially.
Attack is the best defense against him.
P.S: Good part in German too, always interesting to hear players in their own language. Carlos in particular is able to formulate his thoughts better.
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Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
He should switch to stand up comedy.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
It's a Wilander take.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
In Sinner's case, just one of the reasons mentioned above explains the 95% of his success.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Sinner plays defense to offense better than big 3 by this YouTuber.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
After almost 2 months since this thread is posted, I have to say, the sineraz pair is elevating tennis.
Alcaraz looks combination of Federer and Nadal more. He has nadal's foot speed and strength off both wings , but Federer's ingenuity and maybe even more showboating recklessness. Alcaraz has gifted athletic genes and on top he has very soft hands plus courage to attack at all cost.
Sinner looks more combination of Djokovic, Federer. He is slowly creeping into upper echelon of serving even his ace rate has become 10% and hitting out 0-4 shots like monster both on serve and return. He has just slightly lesser movement than Djokovic but more than makes it up by refusing defense a lot. Other than that his game is copy of Djokovic, heavy neutralizing quality shots from both sides and hitting with depth consistently.
These two are almost peerless when they are on. But sinner has matured mentally that he is in even when not at his best and alcaraz being the younger one is still working on it.
Alcaraz looks combination of Federer and Nadal more. He has nadal's foot speed and strength off both wings , but Federer's ingenuity and maybe even more showboating recklessness. Alcaraz has gifted athletic genes and on top he has very soft hands plus courage to attack at all cost.
Sinner looks more combination of Djokovic, Federer. He is slowly creeping into upper echelon of serving even his ace rate has become 10% and hitting out 0-4 shots like monster both on serve and return. He has just slightly lesser movement than Djokovic but more than makes it up by refusing defense a lot. Other than that his game is copy of Djokovic, heavy neutralizing quality shots from both sides and hitting with depth consistently.
These two are almost peerless when they are on. But sinner has matured mentally that he is in even when not at his best and alcaraz being the younger one is still working on it.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
This idiotic account is making claims that Federer average first serve was 128 mph looking at GOOGLE
www.youtube.com
For Federer it was already happening for last 10 years but with Nadal same thing will happen. The old ghosts of fans will keep overrating their numbers without much knowledge as stats were poorly kept in their time and call them unbeatable.
Everyone is beatable of course save 1/2 years of Nadal on clay. So all it takes is proper stats which tennis used to lag in.
10 Minutes of Tennis: Roger and Rafa (in their prime) Could Beat the Current Top Players!
In this episode, you'll discover why Coach Justin Yeo, world renowned tennis coach, Australian in Puerto Rico, believes Roger and Rafa (in their Prime) can b...
www.youtube.com
For Federer it was already happening for last 10 years but with Nadal same thing will happen. The old ghosts of fans will keep overrating their numbers without much knowledge as stats were poorly kept in their time and call them unbeatable.
Everyone is beatable of course save 1/2 years of Nadal on clay. So all it takes is proper stats which tennis used to lag in.
smoledman
G.O.A.T.
2008 Wimbledon Final begs to differ.
or perhaps 2012 AO Final.
or 2019 Wimbledon Final.
Point is Sincaraz have a long way to go to equal the prestige of those matches in our memories, much less surpass them. I don't think it's possible since the 2008-2019 era was beastly, inhuman tennis.
or perhaps 2012 AO Final.
or 2019 Wimbledon Final.
Point is Sincaraz have a long way to go to equal the prestige of those matches in our memories, much less surpass them. I don't think it's possible since the 2008-2019 era was beastly, inhuman tennis.
With the addition of a variety of skills that the Fedal generation has/have that disappeared with the generation that sandwiched them.
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
They have the potential to give the best tennis human eyes have ever seen BUT so far the gold standard keeps being Fedalovic, and there's evidence of that last year.
Petchey was commentating Fonseca last night and someone texted him this sentiment, which I posted earlier in this thread - Sinner, Alcaraz, Fonseca, Mensik etc... all stand on the shoulders of the greatness that came before them, there would be no Sincarazseca without Fedalovic and Sampragassi before that and so on and so forth... through the annals of the time - nothing happens in a vacuum
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
In power, absolutely, the ball is moving faster, but Fedalovic were so phisically gifted, I don't know if they could get to the level shown but Nadal for example at the same age. That was just insane.
Vincent-C
Legend
Mattsie is Just Too Much. How did that claim work out?
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