How Alcaraz & Sinner's Slam starts compare to Federer, Nadal & Djokovic's

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry is about to embark on another chapter, with the Roland Garros clay providing the stage. The Spaniard will take on the Italian in the semi-finals of the Paris major on Friday in one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the season.

Both men have put their names alongside the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for the start to their careers at the majors. 

Alcaraz already has a US Open and a Wimbledon title under his belt, while Sinner’s trophy cabinet includes an Australian Open title. Their battle for a place in the Roland Garros final is further proof that they are contenders wherever their names appear on an entry list.

Their adaptation to the Grand Slams has been lightning-quick thanks to their innate ambition to excel on the sport’s biggest stages. Melbourne Park, The Bois de Boulogne, the All England Club and Flushing Meadows have all witnessed the rise of two versatile young stars who have adapted to each of the major’s particular conditions with aplomb.

Their Grand Slam records until their 50th match win stand up alongside those of the ‘Big Three’, the undisputed dominant forces at the majors for the past two decades.

Matches played to reach 50 Grand Slam wins

Alcaraz has matched the record of Nadal by needing just 60 Grand Slam encounters to reach 50 victories across the Slams. The Murcia native owns exactly the same record his countryman Nadal did when he reached his half-century at the majors. (50-10). Nadal already had claimed three Roland Garros crowns by the time he reached the number.

Sinner, who has had to play 66 matches to reach his 50th major win, holds a record that is almost identical to that of Djokovic (64) and Federer (68). It is a stat that confirms the Italian’s arrival among some of the biggest names in the history of the sport.

Both Djokovic (2008 Australian Open) and Federer (2003 Wimbledon, 2004 Australian Open) were Grand Slam champions at the time of their 50th major match win, and Sinner joined them earlier this season with his victory at Melbourne Park.

All five stars made the 50-wins mark at the majors before turning 23. Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz were 21, while Federer and Sinner were 22. 

Much to the delight of tennis fans, Alcaraz and Sinner will on Friday add to their thrilling Lexus ATP Head2Head series, which currently stands at 4-4. Their first encounter at a Grand Slam tournament, when the Spaniard saved a match point before winning an epic five-set quarter-final victory en route to his first major title at the 2022 US Open, points to another classic clash on the Roland Garros clay.

The duo’s battle to dominate the Tour promises to endure. While Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 of all time in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner will make history of his own Monday when he becomes the first Italian player to reach World No. 1.

In an era of generational change at the top of the sport, the stars have each made their case for carrying the baton into the future.

Did you know?
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s semi-final clash at Roland Garros will be the youngest men’s singles Grand Slam semi-final since the 2008 US Open, when Andy Murray (21) beat Nadal (22) to reach the championship match at Flushing Meadows.

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