When Roger Federer decided to hang up his racket in 2022, many nostalgists cried for the end of the racket’s Big Four. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray remained active. Two years later, the latter two would say goodbye. The question then was even bigger. Djokovic was left alone and the question was what the new tennis rivalry would be and if it could be compared to the previous one..
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, 22 and 24 years old, respectivelyhave been worthy heirs. The Murcian and the Italian have shared the last nine Grand Slam titles and the last 20 tournaments in which both have coincided in the painting. At the earliest they will not see each other again until the next edition of Wimbledon due to Carlitos’ wrist injury that has left him without Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.
The Manolo Santana center will live this Sunday, with the duel between Rafa Jódar and Joao Fonsecathe birth of a rivalry also destined to mark an era and even join Alcaraz and Sinner to form another Big Four.
Both Rafa and Joao are 19 years old and are the only players born in 2006 who have opened their trophy case and have won against top-10 opponents.
Jódar competes very well and improves more and more
“He is playing at a very high level. Rafa competes very well and improves more and more“, analyzes Fonseca, who will make his debut in the tournament in the third round because Marin Cilic withdrew due to injury. Not even the Carioca improves the start as a professional of the one who will be his rival.
Jódar has 17 games won in the first 25. Joao reached 15, the same as Nadal. And behind them are Alcaraz (14), Sinner and Djokovic (12) and Federer (11).
The young man from Leganés is the surprise guest at the table of the greats. The 36 games played this season are a record number. Sinner, without going any further, brings together 27, which is nine less.
“I have to take care of my body”, he acknowledges. Angel Ruiz Cotorrodoctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation, accompanies Rafa Jódar Sr. on the bench. The tennis player’s body is under construction. Fonseca is already done.
Spanish tennis podium
The meteoric rise of the member of the Navy could place him today as the third national racket in the ranking if he reaches the second round. He would overtake Jaume Munar and would be on the verge of being seeded at Roland Garros 2026. “Everything is going very fast,” he acknowledges. “But I’m going to continue being the same hard-working and humble boy.”
Jódar and Fonseca sufficiently lead the Next Gen ATP classification. The former accumulates a total of 819 points this season compared to the Brazilian’s 540.
The podium is closed by Martín Landaluce, with 295. The organization, aware of the expectation created by the match, has scheduled it for the last shift on the Manolo Santana court, not before 9:30 p.m. Sinner will be very aware of what happens there.which is analyzing the possible obstacles on the way to completing the Grand Slam in Paris.
