Time to put past behind, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are men’s tennis’s new protagonists
If Jannik Sinner, the 23-year-old World No. 1 and heavy tournament favourite, defends his Australian Open title this month, he will become only the third player in the Open Era – after Roger Federer (06-07) and Novak Djokovic (15-16) – to win three consecutive hard court Majors. If Carlos Alcaraz, already the second most successful active men’s tennis player at 21, lifts the season-opening Major trophy, he will become only the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam – winning all four Major titles at least once – in the Open Era. The narrative of Djokovic, with former rival Andy Murray now in his camp, attempting to script more history and continue to keep his place among tennis’s elite at the age of 37, may dominate headlines. But there is little doubt that Alcaraz and Sinner are the main protagonists of the men’s draw in Melbourne this month. Nostalgia can be a powerful tool for keeping sport relevant. But the record-breaking success of Alcaraz and Sinner, who swept all four Majors last year, has …
