The eerie similarities in the Alcaraz-Sinner and Nadal-Federer rivalries

The budding rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz bears an uncanny resemblance to the early days of the Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal rivalry.

First to beat each other at major finals

Sinner was 3-0 in major finals until his loss to Alcaraz at the 2025 French Open. Alcaraz was 5-0 in slam finals until his loss to Sinner in Sunday's Wimbledon championship match. Guess what? The same fate befell Nadal and Federer in 2006. Federer was 7-0 in major finals until his loss to Nadal at the 2006 French Open, and Nadal was 2-0 in slam finals before losing to Federer at 2006 Wimbledon. 

The Wimbledon-French double whammy

The period between 2006 and 2008 saw Federer and Nadal clash in three consecutive French Open and Wimbledon finals. This year, Alcaraz and Sinner joined the retired legends as the only duo in the Open Era to meet in the grass and clay court majors in the same season. If they were to do it again in 2026 and 2027, the parallels will become even eerier.

Separating themselves from the pack

Alcaraz (three) and Sinner (four) have captured the last seven majors among them. The longest-ever streak for majors won by two players belongs to Federer and Nadal, who claimed 11 titles among them between the 2005 French Open and 2007 U.S. Open. Again, if Sinner and Alcaraz share the next four slams — a realistic possibility — the comparison grows stronger. They are currently just two shy of equaling Novak Djokovic and Nadal's streak of nine majors between the 2010 French Open and 2012 French Open.

Their only competition is each other

Everyone remembers Federer running roughshod through the tennis world from 2005-08, except when he met Nadal. Federer was 1-6 in his first seven outings against Nadal, but began to turn the tide with the 2006 Wimbledon final win. A similar trend is occurring between Sinner and Alcaraz. Since the start of 2024, Sinner is 98-4 against everyone else and 1-5 against Alcaraz, after ending a five-match losing streak to the Spaniard at Wimbledon. Perhaps the win at The Championships helps him turn a corner in the rivalry, too.

While it will be fun to follow the rivalry between Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, unfold in the coming years, their dominance spells disaster for the rest of the ATP circuit — at least until a third dominant player joins the fray, much like Djokovic did around 2010. 

Alas, history is repeating itself.