"Street fight like Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer" - Serena Williams' ex-coach makes bold prediction on Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner rivalry

Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci, marked an interesting statement with his prediction about the future rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Macci believes their rivalry could follow in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer.

Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, has quickly ascended to the pinnacle of the tennis world, becoming the youngest World No. 1 in history. He has showcased his aggressive style with exceptional shot-making, athleticism, and unyielding spirit. Additionally, he has won 17 ATP titles, portraying his versatility and dominance across surfaces.

On the other hand, Sinner, the current World No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shown his tactical brilliance and ice-cool temperament which has made him one of the most formidable opponents on the ATP Tour. His win-loss ratio last year was 73-6, and two of those losses against Alcaraz. Additionally, out of his 19 ATP titles, 17 have come on hard courts, displaying his strength on the surface.

They have collectively won seven of the last ten Grand Slam titles, underscoring the dominance they have displayed since bursting onto the scene.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Macci likened their booming rivalry to the iconic battles between Nadal and Federer, declaring that the two young stars are here to stay at the top of the sport.

“Sinner versus Alcaraz will be must see TV for many years. Both are here to stay. Mentally not going away. Both know the way how to play all day. Both can get a lot Better and this street fight will be like Nadal versus Federer. @carlosalcaraz @janniksin.”

Macci also mentioned that while they are the best in the sport at the moment, they still have scope of improvement.

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Federer-Nadal rivalry in comparison with the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry

Nadal and Federer at Laver Cup 2022 - Source: Getty

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are arguably two of the greatest players of all time. They revolutionized the sport with their extraordinary achievements and gameplay, elevating tennis to unprecedented heights. Their rivalry and excellence drew countless fans to the sport, inspired future generations, and laid a strong foundation for tennis to thrive for years to come.

Their rivalry is an epitome of grace and grit. Federer, with his fluid, attacking style, often found himself clashing with Nadal’s tenacious, grinding baseline game. Together they appeared in 61 Grand Slam finals and won 42 among them with Federer claiming 20 and Nadal 22. They played each other nine times in the finals of Grand Slams with Nadal leading the tally 6-3.

Overall, they played 40 matches against each other and Nadal leads the way there as well with 24-16. Their Wimbledon 2008 final clash is regarded as one of the most iconic matches in the history of tennis, where Nadal came out as the winner in five sets.

As discussed earlier, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have developed a compelling rivalry, facing each other 10 times since 2021, with Alcaraz leading the head-to-head record 6-4. Their encounters have been notable for their intensity and high level of play, including memorable matches such as the 2022 US Open quarterfinal, and the 2024 French Open semifinal, on both occasions the Spaniard won in five sets. Sinner secured a significant victory in the 2023 Miami Open semifinal, highlighting the competitive balance between the two.

With the tennis world in the midst of a generational shift following the dominance of the Big Three—Federer, Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—the spotlight now shines on Alcaraz and Sinner. Their clashes could define this new era, much like Nadal and Federer shaped the sport for nearly two decades.

This evolution promises to elevate their rivalry further, keeping fans on the edge of their seats for years to come.