Alcaraz and Sinner can't be compared to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, says former tennis star: 'Not in same bracket'

Former British tennis star Danny Sapsford has issued a stern warning to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, saying that the young duo is not in the 'same bracket' as greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Sapsford, however, admitted that Sinner and Alcaraz are probably better players than his generation, which included tennis stars like Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras.

Sapsford argued that in his era, tennis was played on much faster courts, and it helped unidimensional players dominate matches and win majors, but that has changed now with surfaces slowing down.

'Tennis courts were faster in past'

The 57-year-old said that the quality of all-around tennis has also improved over the years, exposing any weakness that a player may possess.

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“It was a totally different era, different times. I think everything was a lot quicker. The balls were faster, the courts were faster,” Sapsford said. “There was more emphasis on serving and dominating from the net. Back in my day, there was a lot of six-foot-four guys like Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras. They were big serving, big brutes.

“I think the players today… I’d almost describe them in inverted commas as better tennis players. They are more all-around players. Whereas back in the day, you could get away with, I don’t know, being six foot four and having a massive serve and that won you three-quarters of your matches.

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“Now, if you’ve got slight holes in your game, you’ll be found out. I think the surfaces are too slow and the overall standards are just a little bit too high. Back in our day, I don’t know, it just felt, it felt a little bit easier.”

'Can't compare Alcaraz and Sinner to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic'

Comparing Alcaraz and Sinner with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, Sapsford said that the duo, who have won all the Grand Slams since 2024, will have to dominate the courts for almost a decade to be considered as good as the legendary trio.

“When you look at Roger, Rafa and Novak topping the rankings for 20 years plus, it was just stupid,” he added. “It’s staggering how they’ve managed to sustain that level over that period of time and Djokovic is still going, which is mind-blowing.

“So I guess if Sinner and Alcaraz are still around in 10 or even 15 years and still winning, then you can say, well, yeah, they are as good as those guys.

“But just being top of the game for three or four years, as Sinner and Alcaraz have done, I don’t think that that puts them in the same bracket just yet.

“The game always moves on, so they’ve certainly taken the game to a new level. But like I say, it’s whether they can sustain, sustain that dominance over 15 years or something, that will really prove their mettle.”