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Rafael Nadal has heaped praise on Jannik Sinner for being able to stay focused during his “very tough process the last year”, while he also offered his views on fellow youngsters Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek.
Sinner currently sits at No 1 in the ATP Rankings on the back of his stunning form the past 18 months that saw him win three Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals while four-time major champion Alcaraz is at No 3 and five-time Slam winner Swiatek is at No 2 in the women’s rankings.
The trio are expected to dominate tennis in the next few years – taking over from legends Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Serena Williams – and 22-time major winner Nadal was asked about the rising stars of the game during an extensive interview on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.
Carlos is a great kid. Great guy with a very good family behind him, with positive values. Humble. They’re good people. That’s true,” the former world No 1 stated.
“That’s why I think Carlos is how he is. Because in the end, the values you receive at home, the way you’re educated is the way that you show up. I see the same with Iga.”
There is no doubt that Sinner is currently the best men’s player, but he has had some problems away from the court.
The Italian failed two drug tests in March 2024 and, although he was initially cleared of any wrongdoing after he tested positive for the banned substance clostebol with the International Tennis Integrity Agency stating he bore “no fault or negligence”, the World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] appealed against the decision to clear the 23-year-old.
After initially stating they would ask for a ban between 12 months and 24 months, WADA later reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal representatives that resulted in him accepting a three-month ban, which runs from 9 February until 4 May.
The ruling has caused a lot of controversy as some believe he should have been banned for longer while others feel he has done nothing wrong.
