ATP players called out over lack of drive to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have completely taken over men’s tennis, claiming every major title since the 2023 US Open.

Back then, it was Novak Djokovic who last broke through, beating Daniil Medvedev in what now feels like a different era of the sport.

The momentum hasn’t slowed. Alcaraz opened 2026 with another Australian Open win, while Sinner picked up titles at both Indian Wells and Miami before taking Monte Carlo as well.

Despite their dominance, one former pro thinks the rest of the tour isn’t doing enough to close the gap.

Questions raised over players’ ability to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz

Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated every tournament they’ve entered this season, except for the Barcelona Open, where the Spaniard had to pull out due to injury.

Bruguera spoke to Punto de Break about his thoughts on how the current crop of players is handling the dominance at the top.

“When there was Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic, it was already something extraordinary,” Bruguera said. “I thought there would be a lot of equality afterward, many players who could win Grand Slams. Now, for two years, they win everything; they are way ahead of the rest. We lack two or three players in that second tier who can compete with them.

“A Wawrinka, a Murray, a Del Potro… were people who could win a Grand Slam, but now there is none of this profile. There are people who lack ambition, who are already doing very well within the top ten or fifteen.

“When they are in good form during the week, they reach finals or win an ATP 500 title – and that’s enough for them.”

Zverev currently holds third spot in the ATP rankings but has lost his last 11 matches against Sinner and Alcaraz.

Sergi Bruguera backs Alexander Zverev as potential Grand Slam disruptor to Alcaraz and Sinner

Bruguera may have had some criticism for the current ATP elite, but he also singled out Zverev for praise.

When asked who might break the Grand Slam hold of Sinner and Alcaraz, he said: “I have always thought of Alexander Zverev.”

“He is the only one who has always worked hard, with the ambition to win Grand Slams, he has been close several times. He has reached three finals, in Roland Garros he was a break up against Carlos in the fifth set, but he always lacked that little something. For me, he is the only one who, when facing them, always wanted to compete.”

Zverev has fallen short in three major finals so far, with two of those losses coming against Sinner or Alcaraz.

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