(Sports news, tennis news) The confrontation between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the China Open 2024 not only brought the title to the Spanish guy, but also opened a new era for tennis, where the competitive spirit and modern style of play are honored.
The decline of the legendary trio “BIG 3” (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) once made many people worry about the future of tennis. When Federer retired, Nadal’s form declined, leaving only Djokovic standing firm, the question was who would continue that great legacy.
Alcaraz (pink shirt) and Sinner (gray) just created the longest match in China Open history with a duration of 3 hours and 21 minutes.
But the emergence of young talents like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has opened up a fascinating new chapter for tennis, not only reviving the competitive spirit but also developing the game in terms of tactics, style of play and sportsmanship.
The Alcaraz vs. Sinner Rivalry: The Future of Tennis
In the final of the 2024 China Open, Alcaraz and Sinner brought about an emotional and breathtaking confrontation. Alcaraz, a young Spanish player, defeated Sinner with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 to win his first title at this tournament.
Despite being the winner, Alcaraz still modestly admitted: “Jannik is the best player in the world right now. He is like a “Beast”, both physically and mentally.”
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has become one of the most anticipated matches of all time. They do not see each other as enemies, but as a driving force for mutual improvement. It is the healthy competition that pushes both of them to become more perfect.
The matches between them always make fans live in moments of suspense, then satisfaction, because of great hits, smart tactics, especially they always respect their opponents.
New gameplay and unique tactics
Alcaraz and Sinner are not just putting on spectacular shows, they are also changing the way tennis is played. The China Open final showed a clear evolution in their playing style as both players continued to come to the net to finish points.
Serve and volley is a classic tennis tactic, but Alcaraz and Sinner are not dependent on this technique.
Instead of relying on traditional volleys, they often finish points with powerful, spinning shots as they approach the net, putting a lot of pressure on their opponents.
Alcaraz and Sinner generated more than 100 rallies at the net, but interestingly, most of the points ended without the need for a volley, a technique that is common in classical tennis.
In tennis, a volley is a shot that a player hits before the ball touches the ground, usually while moving close to the net. However, in this match, Alcaraz and Sinner scored points by stepping up to the net without overusing the volley.
Specifically, 58% of Alcaraz’s net shots were without volleys, while Sinner’s was 74%. This reflects the evolution of modern play, where young players use the power and spin of their approach shots to finish points immediately, giving opponents no chance to counterattack.
The Spaniard hit 66 shots at the net during the match, with the majority being forehands (40), while Sinner hit 39, with 27 forehands.
Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner at the China Open was not just a title, but also a symbol of the evolution of tennis.
As legends like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic gradually leave the court, Alcaraz and Sinner are writing a new story for world tennis. They not only inherit the legacy of the “BIG 3” but also bring a modern, powerful and creative style of play.
In the eyes of experts, although Alcaraz was the winner, tennis benefited the most. The top matches between Alcaraz and Sinner opened a new era, where fair competition, sportsmanship and new tactics were highly valued.
