Sinner, Alcaraz split the Slams to usher in new era

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz split the four Grand Slams between them in 2024, confirming their status as the brightest stars of men's tennis and the vanguard of a new, golden generation.

Sinner on Sunday added the US Open to his Australian Open triumph in January.

He swept Taylor Fritz off court in a brutally one-sided final, becoming the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

That is a feat that eluded Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, as well as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

Two years Sinner's junior, Alcaraz won the French Open and defended his Wimbledon title in 2024 and already has four Grand Slam titles to his name.

"It's a bit different, for sure," Sinner said Sunday when asked to assess the new era.

"It's nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries. I will always have players who are going to make me a better player, because there are going to be times when they beat me.

"Then you have to try to find a way to win against certain players."

The 23-year-old beanpole Italian has six titles this year, while Alcaraz has three.

Both men have already pocketed a total of 15 titles each in their careers.

Alcaraz is making Grand Slam history faster than the "Big Three "of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, despite a shock second-round exit at the US Open.

None of the three legends managed to win four majors before their 22nd birthday.

Djokovic did not win his fourth Slam until the 2011 US Open, when he was 24.

Setting Slam records

Nadal was 22 when he earned his fourth at the French Open in 2008, while Federer was 23 when he collected a fourth major at the 2004 US Open.

Alcaraz could claim a career Grand Slam at the age of 21 if he wins a maiden Australian Open in January next year.

Djokovic remains marooned on 24 Grand Slam titles, a men's record, but still level with Margaret Court in the all-time total.

For the first time since 2017, he will finish a season without a Grand Slam trophy.

Djokovic will be 38 next May, and if he were to add another Slam to his collection, he would be the oldest major singles champion, surpassing Ken Rosewall who was just over 37 when he clinched the 1972 Australian Open.

The now-retired Federer was 36 and five months when he claimed his 20th and final Slam at the 2018 Australian Open.

Nadal will turn 39 in May next year, but the injury-plagued Spaniard is on the brink of retirement.

He was two days past his 36th birthday when he won his 22nd major and 14th French Open in 2022.

This year was the first since 2002 that at least one of the Slams was not claimed by a member of the Big Three.

Fritz, playing in his first Slam final at the age of 26, believes the majors are more open than ever.

'Go deep in tournaments'

"I don't think you have to play unbelievable tennis to go deep in tournaments and contend," he said on Sunday.

"You can find yourself a little deeper in the draws, like quarterfinals and stuff, if you just play solid tennis, although I still think to beat the top guys you need to bring your best game."

Both Djokovic and Nadal are expected to return to action in the coming days.

Djokovic is on Davis Cup duty in Belgrade with Serbia in the week ahead, while Nadal, who hasn't played since the Olympics, is due to feature at the Laver Cup in Berlin from Sept 20.

Both men are likely to face questions over their future plans in a sport they have dominated for the best part of two decades, but for whom the clock is ticking.

Tight turnaround

Pre-tournament concerns about how the Olympians would fare with the tight turnaround from Paris to New York, and the quick switch from clay to hard courts, were validated, as none of the singles medalists made it past the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz, who lost to Djokovic in the energy-sapping Olympic final, also went out early, stunned by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.

Olympic women's champion Zheng Qinwen, who lost in the quarterfinals, said the quick turnaround did her no favors.

"I have been in a rush since the Olympic Games," said China's Zheng. "I only had three days to prepare for US Open. I'm not able to do all of my normal fitness program."

Hailed as the 'city that never sleeps', a sweltering New York put players through the wringer. The tournament featured its latest-ever start for a match, longest-ever match and latest-ever finish for a women's match.

World No 1 Iga Swiatek was another leading contender who went out sooner than expected. The five-time Grand Slam winner and 2022 champion lost in the quarters, while defending champion Coco Gauff exited in the fourth round.

With players struggling for fitness in tough conditions, it was perhaps little surprising that Aryna Sabalenka triumphed on the women's side.

The Belarusian retained her title at the Australian Open, but took a mid-season break to address health and fitness concerns after suffering a back injury in Rome. She also sat out Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury.

Agencies