Australian Open: Experts on how Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz influenced 'changing of the guard' in men's tennis
Published 26/01/2025 at 20:07 GMT
As the Australian Open comes to an end after more gripping matches and storylines, the Eurosport panel believes that the future of men's tennis is in good hands. After Jannik Sinner secured back-to-back titles at the tournament, Eurosport experts John McEnroe and Mats Wilander are confident that the men's game can be more competitive following the dominant era of the 'Big Three'.
Dominant Sinner seals second Melbourne crown - Australian Open highlights
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Eurosport experts John McEnroe and Mats Wilander believe that two tennis stars have influenced the "changing of the guard" in the men's game.
The Australian Open came to a close on Sunday with Jannik Sinner securing a straight-sets win over Alexander Zverev, 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3, to claim his third Grand Slam triumph.
It was also a tournament where the younger generation announced themselves on the world stage, with Joao Fonseca claiming a stunning win over ninth seed Andrey Rublev, while American Learner Tien earned a shock win over Daniil Medvedev.
After coming through an entertaining quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, it looked like Novak Djokovic was on course to go all the way, before he was forced to retire injured in his semi-final clash against Zverev.
However, McEnroe credited the Serbian for forcing the upcoming talent to raise their level and produce shock moments.
"Djokovic, you’ve got to hand it to him because he’s forced these youngsters to get better," McEnroe told Eurosport.
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McEnroe lauds Sinner as 'by far the best player on hard courts'
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"They realise how good he is and still is, and he showed that when he outwitted Alcaraz and, at the end of the day, pulled that match out.
"We have been talking about when is the changing of the guard? You are seeing it for real. Sinner and Alcaraz won all four majors [last year] and you are looking to see who the next guy is.
"Will it be an American? When is [Joao] Fonseca breaking through? But boy oh boy, it looks like those two [Sinner and Alcaraz] look like they are going to dominate."
Wilander also mentioned Alcaraz as an influential figure for youngsters to believe that it was possible to break through at such a young age.
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The Spaniard won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 19 when he defeated Casper Ruud in four sets at the 2022 US Open.
Alcaraz has reached elite levels since claiming that trophy and went on to become the Wimbledon and French Open champion last year, as well as reaching the Olympic final in Paris.
"There’s a belief there and Alcaraz started something by winning by being so young. There’s now belief. It hasn’t been done for quite a while and the 'Big Three' has so much to do with that, and it was impossible for the likes of Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov and these kinds of people to break through, because Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal] and Novak were too good.
"Once Carlos did it, it seems like they’re better and they’re stronger physically. We thought it was a physical thing, but it turns out maybe it’s not a physical thing – was it a mental thing? Now it turns out that’s what it was, they just didn’t believe it, but right now, they do, and it’s so great for our game."
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'The pressure is different - Sinner on winning back-to-back Australian Open titles
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Former British No. 1 Tim Henman also weighed in and believes that two other players can take encouragement from the youngsters and improve in the future.
Henman added: "He’s not a teenager, but I’d like to see Jack Draper in that conversation more and more. He did unbelievably well to come through three five-set matches and then ran out of gas against Alcaraz.
"I guess at the other end of the scale, you’re talking about the age and someone like [Stefanos] Tsitsipas – he’s had a tough time going out first round."
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