THE "NEW 2" TRICK: WHAT CARLOS ALCARAZ AND JANNIK SINNER PICKED UP FROM STUDYING FEDERER’S LATE CAREER
Jim Courier claims Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could go head-to-head with the Big 4. Read the full tactical analysis here.
Jim Courier doesn’t see any real flaws in Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz. In fact, he’s convinced these two could have gone toe-to-toe with the legendary ‘Big 4’.
Right now, Alcaraz is the world No. 1, Sinner sits just behind him at No. 2, and they’ve basically taken over men’s tennis. Nobody else is even close in the ATP Rankings.
Between them, they’ve snagged the last nine Grand Slam singles trophies. If they win just two more, they’ll match Federer and Nadal’s record of 11 straight majors as a duo.
Alcaraz already has seven Grand Slam singles titles and has racked up 58 weeks (and counting) as world No. 1. He just completed the Career Grand Slam after his win at the Australian Open.
Sinner spent 66 weeks at the top himself and owns four Grand Slam titles. He’s got a shot to complete his own career Grand Slam at the French Open this spring.
These two have jumped straight into the spotlight after the era of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray—the ‘Big 4’ who once ruled the sport.
On the Tennis Insider Club podcast, Courier called Sinner and Alcaraz the ‘New 2’ and said they’d absolutely have been able to challenge those legends.
“Look at the last year and a half—they’ve won everything,” Courier said. “They can handle any surface, they’re both young, and they move like nobody else.”
He added, “Honestly, I think they would’ve gone head-to-head with the Big Four. They probably studied those guys and picked up all their tricks. Jannik’s game and movement remind me a lot of Novak. Carlos? He’s just unique. He’s taken the best bits from everyone.”
Right now, Alcaraz and Sinner are way ahead of the rest of the ATP field. Even 38-year-old Djokovic is probably the only one who looks like he could give them trouble.
People keep asking when someone else from their generation will finally catch up. Names like Ben Shelton, Jack Draper, and Joao Fonseca get thrown around as future contenders, but honestly, nobody’s really come close. The gap’s only getting wider.
Courier went on to say that what sets Sinner and Alcaraz apart is their total lack of weaknesses.
“There was a time when top players had holes in their games. Not anymore. Sinner and Alcaraz? No weak spots,” he said.
“That changes everything. Technique matters more than ever. The game’s so fast now, you have to attack from everywhere. That’s pretty new.
“Even Rafa eventually erased his weaknesses. Roger switched rackets late in his career, and suddenly his backhand turned into a weapon—especially against Rafa.
“In my day, even Pete Sampras had a safe side to attack—his backhand. But with these guys, there’s nowhere to hide. You’re never comfortable.”
After their runs at the Australian Open, both Alcaraz and Sinner are set to play again at the Qatar Open next week.
HISTORY ON LINE: NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEGINS INDIAN WELLS RUN TO SNATCH FEDERER’S TITLE RECORD
Is Djokovic the GOAT? Discover how Novak plans to break Roger Federer’s Indian Wells title record in the 2026 California desert.
Novak Djokovic is gearing up for his 17th run at Indian Wells, chasing a sixth Masters title in California. The draw hasn’t done him any favours, but plenty of experts still see him as a real threat to win it all.
He’s coming in hot, too. Djokovic kicked off the season by making it to the Australian Open final, only falling to Carlos Alcaraz at the very end.
There’s even more at stake this year. If Djokovic lifts the trophy at Indian Wells, he breaks a tournament record that Roger Federer currently shares with him.
Now, Federer’s name is all over the Indian Wells record books. Even after retiring in 2022, he still holds eight records there. You see his name next to most finals played, most matches played and won, and the most editions entered.
Right now, Federer and Djokovic are tied for most titles at Indian Wells, each with five. They also share a couple of other records, but this year, Djokovic has a shot at pulling ahead. If he wins, he grabs that title record outright, which would leave Federer with seven Indian Wells records to himself.
When it comes to head-to-head battles at Indian Wells, Djokovic has always had Federer’s number. They’ve faced off three times on those courts, and Djokovic came out on top every single time.
Here’s how some of the big records at Indian Wells stack up:
Most titles: Djokovic 5, Federer 5
Most finals: Federer 9
Most consecutive titles: Federer (2004–2006) and Djokovic (2014–2016), both with 3.
Most consecutive finals: Federer (two separate runs of 3), Djokovic (2014–2016)
Most matches played: Federer 79
Most matches won: Federer 66
Most consecutive matches won: Djokovic: 19
Most editions played: Federer 18.
Oldest champion: Federer (35 years, 7 months, 11 days in 2017)
So, while Federer still dominates the record books, Djokovic has a real chance to add another chapter to the rivalry and maybe take home another record for himself.
THE 3.3.26 DATE: UNEARTHING THE ROMANTIC DETAILS BEHIND ARYNA SABALENKA’S PROPOSAL IN CALIFORNIA
Aryna Sabalenka is engaged: Read about the 3.3.26 proposal to Georgios Frangulis and the reactions from Gauff, Alcaraz, and Djokovic.
Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are just a couple of the tennis stars who rushed to celebrate Aryna Sabalenka’s big news: she’s engaged to Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka dropped the announcement on social media right before kicking off her run at Indian Wells. As the world number one, she’ll jump straight into the second round, waiting to face either Alycia Parks or Himeno Sakatsume. But honestly, her focus seems split lately, and who can blame her? Off the court, she’s soaking up all the love and congratulations pouring in from fellow players.
She posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, adding a simple, sweet caption: “You & me, forever, 3.3.26.” Coco Gauff chimed in with a quick "Congratulations", and Alcaraz went all out with a stretched-out “Congratulatiooooons!” Ben Shelton and Amanda Anisimova also sent their best, and even Novak Djokovic shared some love. Sabalenka’s close friend Paula Badosa joined in, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn couldn’t resist commenting either.
Now, with all the excitement swirling around her engagement, you have to wonder, can Sabalenka keep her head in the game at Indian Wells? Wedding plans are probably swirling in her mind, but if history tells us anything, it’s that Sabalenka knows how to lock in when it matters. Her serve is as deadly as ever, and she’s already put together an 11-1 win-loss record this season, with two finals under her belt.
She kicked things off with a title in Brisbane, then hit a snag in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. No doubt, she’s itching to get back to her winning ways in California. The hard courts there play right into her strengths, and all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on this surface. Plus, she’s been a finalist at Indian Wells twice, so she’s got plenty of motivation to finally go all the way.
The field is stacked, so it won’t be easy. But honestly, if anyone’s primed for a breakthrough at Indian Wells, it’s Sabalenka.
