Forget Court Speeds — Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Win Because They’re Mentally Stronger

Much has been written about the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the modern game. The 24-year-old Sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz have combined to win every Grand Slam over the last two seasons. Sinner has reached five consecutive Grand Slam finals (winning three of them, and four majors overall). Alcaraz has appeared in five of the last eight Grand Slam finals and is already a six-time champion.

The question on many tennis fans’ minds is: how long will their dominance last? When healthy, Sinner and Alcaraz look unstoppable—not just on one type of surface or venue, but across all of them. That’s why the recent debate, sparked by Roger Federer and continued by top-10 player Alexander Zverev at this week’s ATP Shanghai Masters, feels a bit misplaced.

Dominance Across Surfaces

Rafael Nadal was known as the “King of Clay,” Roger Federer made Wimbledon his kingdom, and Novak Djokovic has likely secured his place as the greatest player of all time—owning the record for most Grand Slams (24), most weeks at No. 1, and the most year-end No. 1 finishes (13). For Sinner and Alcaraz to match the accomplishments of these “Big Three” legends, they’ll need to sustain their success well into their 30s. Yet, based on current form, there’s not a surface or venue where either looks uncomfortable—except, perhaps, when facing each other.

Sinner’s toughest Grand Slam has been the French Open; the high bounce and slower pace of clay don’t fully suit his flat, powerful game. Even so, he’s 22–6 in Paris and just reached his first final there. At the Masters 1000 level, the only titles missing from his collection are Monte Carlo and Rome. Alcaraz, by contrast, has won every Masters title except Shanghai (where he withdrew this year) and has lifted trophies at all Grand Slams except the Australian Open—where his 11–4 record lags behind his dominance elsewhere. Perhaps the early-season timing doesn’t suit him, but otherwise, Alcaraz has proven himself a force on all surfaces, and there’s still plenty of time for him to win more Melbourne matches.

At their age, it’s remarkable to have two all-court players already this successful. Alcaraz blends power, speed, and athleticism with tactical intelligence. Sinner’s heavy baseline game, featuring lethal forehands and top spin backhands, is backed by his adaptability and poise under pressure.

The Intimidation Factor

The ongoing debate about court speeds—affected by surface measurement, ball type, weather, and year-to-year variation—misses a larger point. The real key to Sinner and Alcaraz’s dominance is psychological. They don’t just hit the ball better with modern equipment; they deliver under pressure, again and again. That relentless execution discourages opponents long before the final point is played. With Alexander Bublik famously comparing Sinner to an AI generated player.

Zverev, for example, has become known for on-court stress, while Daniil Medvedev’s brilliance has frequently been undermined by mental lapses. Alex de Minaur, though outstanding on hard courts, has yet to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. The composure and fearlessness of Sinner and Alcaraz set them apart—their ability to stay mentally unshaken defines their edge. Their dedication to the sport, and the way they constantly challenge themselves. It’s unrealistic to think any surface, even fast wood or carpet surfaces, would actually undermine Alcaraz or Sinner’s advantages.