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Roger Federer Has a Concern for the Future of Sinner-Alcaraz Dominance in Tennis

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 3:29 AM ET

For nearly 20 years, tennis was spoiled by the brilliance of the Big Three Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—who not only dominated but also pushed each other to heights the sport had never seen. What started as a duel between Roger and Rafa soon became a three-way battle when Novak crashed the party, creating a golden era of rivalries and unforgettable matches.

Now, with that chapter closed, the torch has been passed to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, two young stars carrying the weight of expectation. But while their rise has fans buzzing, Federer himself has raised a thoughtful concern about what the future of their rivalry might mean for tennis as a whole.

While speaking about the Sinner-Alcaraz dominance in Tennis recently, Federer shared his thoughts on a much needed addition to the mix. He said, “I think we all knew they were going to be good and that they were going to be great. But I don’t think we expected this kind of dominance right out of the gate. It’s amazing for the game. I think they play back to back to back to back finals against each other. They have made a name for themselves and obviously now it begs the next question, who is going to be the next guy? Who is going to be that next guy who wants to join this elite group.”

Roger Federer reacts to current dominance of Alcaraz & Sinner ️ pic.twitter.com/zLBish82uS
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 21, 2025

There’s no question that Sinner and Alcaraz have been brilliant, completely dominating the Grand Slams for a second straight year. But the flip side is, there’s really no one out there pushing them or threatening to break their hold. It’s starting to feel a little too one-sided. Just like Novak once came along to shake up the Federer-Nadal rivalry, adding a third player into the mix at this level would make things way more exciting and unpredictable.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Pushing Each Other to the Limits

Two weeks ago in New York, Carlos Alcaraz was on top of the tennis world once again. Fresh off lifting his sixth Grand Slam trophy at the U.S. Open, the Spaniard celebrated with a rooftop photoshoot against the Manhattan skyline—a fitting backdrop for his second title at Flushing Meadows. At just 22, Alcaraz joined Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal as the only men in the Open Era to win six majors before turning 23.

The final was everything fans hoped for: another showdown with Jannik Sinner, their third straight Grand Slam title match. Alcaraz’s win gave him a 10-5 edge in their rivalry and pushed him back to World No. 1. Speaking on NBC’s TODAY show, Alcaraz admitted that Sinner fuels his drive to improve, saying their battles “push each other to the limit.” With seven titles already this season and a 61-6 record, Alcaraz looks primed to end the year on top once again.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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