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NEW STANDARD: GREG RUSEDSKI SAYS CARLOS ALCARAZ, JANNIK SINNER ARE NEXT-LEVEL GREATS

Novak Djokovic questions claims that Alcaraz and Sinner have reached a "higher plane." But expert Greg Rusedski argues that each generation improves the standard.

New Standard: Greg Rusedski Says Carlos Alcaraz,  Jannik Sinner Are Next-Level Greats
Rusedski Compares Alcaraz-Sinner to Past Generations

Novak Djokovic questioned claims that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have moved tennis to a higher plane. He thinks such statements disrespect the achievements of the Big 3. But former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski told Tennis365 that the new Big 2 are special.

Djokovic pushed back on reports that Alcaraz and Sinner are playing at a level beyond what he, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer produced.

That trio won 66 Grand Slam titles. Some say the new dominant duo hit the ball harder and more consistently than the Big 3.

Rusedski chimed in, saying each generation ups the standard. That's why Alcaraz and Sinner are already considered among the sport's greats.

"Each generation gets better, and that's what we see with Alcaraz and Sinner," Rusedski said to Tennis365 before the release of his new podcast, Off Court with Greg.

Sports science is better. Methods are better. Racket tech is better. We say Alcaraz and Sinner are playing tennis we've never seen, but the greats of the past would rise to this level now if they had the same conditions.

My generation had Pete Sampras. He reached 14 Grand Slam titles to break the record, and everyone said it would never be broken.

Then came Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who each won 20 or more Grand Slam titles. Include Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, too.

That time had three all-time greats, and everyone wondered what would happen when Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic were gone.

Then Alcaraz and Sinner show up. Sometimes there's a gap before new players dominate, but it happened fast with these two.

Rusedski thinks Alcaraz and Sinner have a grip on the sport because they bring distinct qualities.

Alcaraz burst onto the scene and won fast, like Rafael Nadal, he said. He's been great for the sport, and six Grand Slam titles are incredible.

Sinner uses his skiing skills to move so well on the court. I've never seen a player move like that.

Other players say they hit the ball so hard on both sides. Alex de Minaur said they hit it harder than Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.

Their Roland Garros final this year was among the best matches ever, including the Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic match-ups.

That says we're seeing two players at another level. But whether they win as much as the 'Big 3' is a different question.

You have to respect Roger, Rafa, and Novak's longevity and achievements. Their records will be hard to break.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC LANDS IN ATHENS AFTER HISTORIC AUSTRALIAN OPEN RUNNER-UP FINISH

After a historic loss to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic returns to his family in Athens to reset for the 2026 tennis season.

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Novak Djokovic loses first-ever Australian Open final to unstoppable Carlos Alcaraz

After losing his first Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic just wanted to see his family.

Djokovic landed in Athens on Tuesday, wrapping up two weeks away from home and marking his 38th appearance in a major final.

For the first time ever, Novak walked away from Rod Laver Arena with the runner-up trophy. At 36, he became the oldest finalist in Australian Open history, but Alcaraz stopped him in four sets: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted just over three hours.

This was Djokovic's first tournament in more than two months, and even so, he showed why people call him a legend. He cruised through the first three rounds and reached the last 16 without much fuss.

In the fourth round, Jakub Mensik had to pull out with an abdominal injury, so Novak got a walkover and saved some energy for the big matches ahead. But things nearly fell apart a few days later. Lorenzo Musetti took the first two sets in their quarterfinal, and for a moment, Djokovic looked like he might be headed home early. Then, out of nowhere, Musetti retired in the third set, and suddenly Novak was through to his 13th Australian Open semi-final.

Next up was Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champ. Djokovic had to dig deep. Twice he came back from a set down and eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 after more than four hours on court. He fought off 16 out of 18 break points and weathered over 70 winners from Sinner, proving that belief really does go a long way. At 36, he marched into his 38th major final.

Djokovic left everything on court against Alcaraz. He started strong, but the Spaniard found his rhythm and took control in the second and third sets, racking up five breaks. In the fourth, Novak saved six break points early on and kept pace, even earning a break chance at 4-all. Then he missed a forehand he’d usually make, and just like that, his shot at a fifth set slipped away.

Alcaraz broke late in the set and sealed the win, handing Djokovic his first-ever loss in an Australian Open final. Now, Novak’s taking some time off to be with his family. He’s expected back on court soon, probably in Doha, but right now, only he knows how his schedule will look.

WHO IS SAMUEL LOPEZ? MEET THE COACH BEHIND CARLOS ALCARAZ’S 2026 AUSTRALIAN OPEN GLORY

Discover the touching moment Carlos Alcaraz saw coach Samuel Lopez receive a trophy after his Australian Open victory.

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Samuel Lopez is the perfect strategic fit for Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz just pulled off something huge—he beat Novak Djokovic in four sets (2:6, 6:2, 6:3, 7:5) to win the Australian Open. With this win, he joins the legends of the Open era, becoming one of the rare players to snag at least one title at all four Grand Slams.

Here’s the wild part: Alcaraz is just 22. Actually, he turns 23 on May 5, so he’s still got plenty of time. This marks his seventh Grand Slam title already. For a bit of perspective, Djokovic had only one Grand Slam trophy at Alcaraz’s age.

Since he’d never won the Australian Open before, Alcaraz didn’t really know the drill for the trophy ceremony. His coach, Samuel Lopez, got a trophy too, which caught Carlos off guard—in a good way. Their partnership has clearly paid off.

Talking to the media, Alcaraz said he loved that coaches get recognised with their own trophy. He hadn’t seen that before and thought it was a fantastic idea, since a champion’s journey isn’t a solo effort. Watching Samuel Lopez get his moment meant a lot to him. “It’s wonderful, and when I saw him there, I was so happy because I know Samuel has been working toward this moment his whole life. For me, he’s one of the best coaches—if not the best—you can have on a tennis court today. For me, it was a magical and incredibly special moment: hugging him after the last point and also seeing him there, with everyone recognising what he deserves,” Alcaraz said.

Not everyone was convinced after Alcaraz split with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and started working with Lopez. Some experts doubted whether he could keep dominating the tour this year. But after Melbourne, it looks like Alcaraz isn’t going anywhere. Even without Ferrero, he’s still leading the pack.

With three more Grand Slams coming up this season, it’s shaping up to be a wild ride. You get the feeling that we’ll be watching Alcaraz and Sinner battling for the biggest prizes all year long.

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