Taylor Fritz claims that the modern tennis elite of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are greater than Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

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Sinner, 23, and his rival Alcaraz, 21, have won every Grand Slam this year. Whenever the pair clash they deliver electrifying matches and seem to be a cut above the rest on the ATP Tour. Djokovic, now verging on calling it quits aged 37, still does his level best to compete against the formidable pair, but the fact remains few can match the duo when they’re on top form.

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Fritz, has only managed to beat either of the two once – that victory coming against Sinner at Indian Wells in 2021 – lost to the Italian in the US Open final last month. He has now gone as far as saying that this new generation is better than both Djokovic and the soon-to-retire legend Nadal – in some areas.

Speaking to Tennis Channel, Fritz was asked about his experiences playing against the two tour-leading stars – who have often had his number – and he obliged, delving into what makes them so formidable, reports the Express.

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“They [Sinner and Alcaraz] just play these lateral baseline points like… I mean these crazy points that you see like Nadal, Fed… mostly you see like Nadal and Novak have these long points corner to corner,” Fritz began.

“But, like when Sinner and Alcaraz do it I swear they’re the same but hitting the ball 10pmh faster. It’s crazy.”

California-born Fritz praised the Grand Slam-winning pair not only for their explosive offence, but also highlighted their often formidable defence. “I mean, one other thing both of those guys do really well is just they… I mean their defence is incredible,” Fritz added. “I think more so though, their defence is amazing – but they don’t really play that much defence!

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“Their defence is like, you know, when they’re full, on the run, out of the corners, they just crush the ball. I guess a good example is like I can be a backhand cross rally with either one of them.

“If I get around one, pull a forehand inside in or pull back in line it’s got to be so good or else the next one is just getting like drilled huge cross court.”

As the era of the ‘big three’ – Djokovic, Nadal, and the already retired Roger Federer – begins to wane, San Diego native Fritz believes tennis is being passed down to equally, if not more skilled hands