2 weeks Ago By Tom Sunderland,Maria Ortega
There's little doubt Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are two future superstars set to dominate the ATP Tour. However, the pair have been told they have a way to go before replicating the kind of aura it took the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal years and years to develop. Between them, the young duo accounts for each of the past five men's major singles titles on offer – a streak they'll hope to extend at the 2025 French Open in late May.
But Richard Gasquet - who will retire from tennis at Roland Garros - believes one must sustain that success over a much longer period to build the same feeling of invulnerability. The Frenchman's career overlapped neatly with Nadal - who was born just 15 days before him - as they clashed on the juniors circuit before both turning pro at a similar time. And Gasquet sat down with fellow veterans David Goffin and Adrian Mannarino, where they discussed the Next-Gen stars in comparison to two of the best of all time.
"Alcaraz has something, but his aura is not yet at Federer's level," he said on the UTS Tour YouTube channel . "That comes with age and success, it takes time to build up. Federer and Nadal are two of the biggest stars in sport.
"Over the last 20 years, if you name 10 global sports icons, they’re on the list. You put [Lionel] Messi , [Cristiano] Ronaldo , a few basketball players, Usain Bolt ..
. and then you say Nadal, Federer. Will we one day say Alcaraz, Sinner? Probably, but it’ll take time.
"Tennis alone isn’t enough. It’s what you do outside, who you are, what you project, your style, your technique. Federer had it all.
" Novak Djokovic - the only member of tennis' 'Big Three' still competing today - was also thrown into the conversation as one whose talent was evident early on. Mannarino lavished praise upon Sinner in comparison to the Serb and predicted that "in four of five years," players will dread drawing the Italian in the early stages of majors - and that's if they don't already. Further to that point, Goffin followed up by adding 23-year-old Sinner is "going to build something special around him.
" However, the seasoned stars agreed "no slumps" are permitted if they're to garner the same respect. "If those guys [Nadal and Federer] had such an aura, it's because they hardly ever messed up," said Goffin. "And it's not only what they produce on the court that moulds that image as Gasquet added it's "who you are, what you project, your style, your technique.
Federer had it all." Mannarino replied: "Do they have that same charisma? Right now, I don’t think so. But maybe they’ll develop it.
" Alcaraz, 21, won his first French Open title last year and will look to keep building his legacy by defending the clay crown this year. However, Sinner has his own motivation after a semi-final exit in 2024, hoping to go a couple better when the tournament gets underway on May 25..
