Youth duel in Wimbledon – Sinner against Alcaraz – a look at the Grand Slam future? – Sports

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz meet for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament. But probably not for the last time.

One is 20 years old, the other 19. And both have already reached at least one quarter-final at a Grand Slam tournament when they were young. In Wimbledon, however, neither Jannik Sinner nor Carlos Alcaraz have torn big ropes.

However, the two youngsters are slowly finding their way around the green surface. And now they meet in the round of 16 at Wimbledon for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament.

The big stage awaits

Almost a week ago, Sinner started the tournament on Church Road against Stan Wawrinka. For the South Tyrolean, the four-set win against the Swiss was tantamount to his first ever victory on grass. Sinner then prevailed against Mikael Ymer (SWE) as well as against the new ace record holder John Isner.

The powerful American was certainly something of a first touchstone for Sinner. But the American is limited in terms of play. In complete contrast to Alcaraz. The newcomer of the year has won four tournaments on clay and hard court in the last few months. Now the Spaniard is also brilliant on grass.

At the start against the German Jan-Lennard Struff, Alcaraz had to play 5 sets and survived some tricky situations. The Spaniard didn’t drop a set against Tallon Griekspoor (NED) and Oscar Otte (GER) – and repeatedly delighted the audience with great winners.

So far, Sinner and Alcaraz have met once on the tour. At last year’s Masters in Paris-Bercy, Alcaraz prevailed in two tight sets. Now the two friends meet again on the “sacred lawn”. It is quite possible that the duel on Center Court is a kind of preview of the future of tennis.