Former slam finalist Marcos Baghdatis predicts Alcaraz may end his career with more majors than Sinner
The long-term battle for tennis supremacy between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has taken on fresh intensity after former Grand Slam finalist Marcos Baghdatis delivered a bold prediction about their futures.
Baghdatis believes Alcaraz will ultimately finish his career with more Grand Slam titles than Sinner, though he admits the margin between the two young stars is razor-thin and the outcome far from certain.
The former world No. 8, who reached the Australian Open final in 2006, was asked to choose between the two dominant figures shaping men’s tennis. His response reflected both conviction and caution.
“It’s a very tough question,” Baghdatis said. “I would go with Alcaraz because he has more variety to his game. But mentally he is maybe less consistent than Sinner, so it can backfire. Still, I would go with Carlos.”
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The numbers already underline why the debate feels so finely balanced. Alcaraz, now 22, announced himself on the biggest stage by winning the US Open in 2022. He followed that breakthrough by lifting the Wimbledon title the following year, before adding four more Grand Slam trophies over the past two seasons. His rapid rise has placed him firmly among the elite at an age when many players are still searching for their first major title.
Sinner’s path has been different. Now 24, the Italian took longer to crack the Grand Slam code, but once he did, the floodgates opened. Since 2024, he has collected four major titles, establishing himself as one of the most formidable forces on tour.
Heading into 2026, Alcaraz holds a two-Slam advantage and is two years younger. Yet recent history shows how evenly matched they have become. Over the last two years, they have shared the past eight Grand Slam titles between them, a striking statistic that highlights the rivalry defining this era.
Baghdatis’ reasoning rests on style as much as silverware. He views Alcaraz’s greater variety as a decisive edge. The Spaniard’s ability to blend power, touch, speed and creativity allows him to win matches in multiple ways. That versatility, in Baghdatis’ view, could prove crucial over the course of a long career.
However, the former finalist also pointed to Alcaraz’s potential vulnerability. While his shot-making dazzles crowds, Baghdatis suggested his mental consistency does not yet match Sinner’s. The Italian is widely regarded as more stable under pressure, a trait that often determines who survives the longest at the highest level.
That contrast fuels the uncertainty surrounding the prediction. Baghdatis openly acknowledged that his call could easily prove wrong, given how closely matched the two players are and how unpredictable careers can be.
Alcaraz himself has never hidden his ambition. Last month, he spoke candidly about his ultimate goal, placing his sights on the sport’s greatest names. Novak Djokovic holds the all-time record with 24 Grand Slam titles, followed by Rafael Nadal with 22 and Roger Federer with 20.
Alcaraz made it clear that he measures his aspirations against those towering figures.
“I can sit at the table with Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic,” he said. “If I didn’t think that way, I wouldn’t have goals or ambition. That’s a goal at the end of my career.”
Those words underline the scale of his belief and the pressure that comes with it. For Alcaraz and Sinner, every season adds weight to comparisons that may last a decade or more.
Baghdatis’ prediction adds another layer to an already fierce rivalry. Whether Alcaraz’s flair outweighs Sinner’s steel remains an open question. What is certain is that tennis stands at the beginning of a defining era, one where every Grand Slam title could tip the balance in a race that may shape the sport’s future history
