The tennis legend made a surprising statement when comparing Sinner to Alcaraz.
In the latest episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, legend Jimmy Connors and his son Brett took a deep dive into the most thrilling men's tennis rivalry today: Carlos Alcaraz versus Jannik Sinner.
Does Sinner need further growth to genuinely rival Carlos Alcaraz?
With Alcaraz winning 7 out of their last 8 encounters, both wonder if the Spanish player has truly reached a new level — and what Sinner or anyone else must do to keep pace.
Brett started the discussion by pointing out the stats: "How will the battle for the number one ranking between Alcaraz and Sinner play out? Has Alcaraz clearly become stronger? Since he has won seven of their last eight matches."
Jimmy quickly replied, suggesting the margin between them is very slim: "That statistic speaks for itself. And the only match Sinner won among the eight was at Wimbledon, which was quite surprising. People expected Alcaraz, with his variety and ability to drop shots, to excel on grass courts. So, Sinner’s win there was the biggest shock."
The former world number one also highlighted the tension from the very first points: "Both started at the highest intensity. There was no warm-up phase before speeding up. From the first game, they played at full throttle — constant deuces. That set the standard for the whole match. The gap between them is extremely small, yet clearly distinct from the rest of the ATP Tour. A single lapse in focus can change the entire outcome."
Carlos Alcaraz aims to complete the Career Grand Slam (winning all four different Grand Slam titles) by early 2026.
Has Alcaraz eliminated his "strange losses"?
Brett recalled that Alcaraz occasionally stumbled against lower-ranked players: "A year ago, people viewed him as the new generation talent destined to be a legend, but sometimes he had puzzling losses. Like the defeat to Goffin in Miami, which was strange. Has he now entered a new phase, free from such slips?"
Jimmy agreed: "Those kinds of losses can happen to anyone. Nobody is perfect. But now, it seems once Alcaraz has found his winning formula, he no longer loses in early rounds. Since Monte Carlo, he hasn’t slipped up. To beat him, you must be one of the top players and catch him on a bad day. Even then, opportunities are rare."
He emphasized the challenge opponents face: "That’s why we talk about young players emerging to challenge Alcaraz. Back in 2021, players over 30 were still at their peak. Now, 18, 19, and 20-year-olds are bigger, stronger, and much better prepared. They have training regimens, nutritionists, psychologists, and full support teams. Tennis used to be an individual sport, but now it almost feels like a team sport."
The conversation then shifted to coaching during matches: "Now everyone looks up to the coach’s box after every point," Jimmy said. "If I had done that when I played, my grandma and Poncho would have ‘poke my eyes out’! They’d say, ‘Handle your own business.’"
According to Jimmy, coaching during matches distorts the nature of tennis: "I oppose it. Everything should be prepared before the match. Tennis is one-on-one. Davis Cup is different, but in normal tournaments, it shouldn’t be allowed. Know your own abilities and compete with your own strength. Winning or losing depends on yourself."
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