Carlos Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open on Sunday, June 8. He defeated Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in an enthralling match that lasted five hours and 29 minutes.
Alcaraz and Sinner put on a near-perfect performance in Paris this year. Since 2024, they have shared the honours in six Grand Slam events on the ATP calendar.
While Sinner started the season by defending his title in Melbourne, Alcaraz has hit back by doing the same at Roland Garros. The question arises whether any other player can challenge the talented duo on tour.
On that note, let’s look at three players who could potentially give Alcaraz or Sinner a run for their money in the future:
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#3 Novak Djokovic
Third on the list is 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023, winning three out of four Majors. He again came close to completing the Calendar Grand Slam, but Carlos Alcaraz snatched the Wimbledon Championships that year.
Cut to 2024, the Serb has struggled to stamp his authority on tour. Apart from a gold medal finish in the Paris Olympics, he couldn't make a significant impact at any of the Majors.
The 39-year-old is still chasing his 25th Grand Slam title this year. Despite a resilient run in Melbourne and Paris, he couldn't navigate past the semifinal stage at either of those events on tour.
The Serb has won four out of the last five matches against Alcaraz and defeated Sinner four times in his career. Considering the record of active players on tour and their ability to handle the big stage, he is still a strong contender to challenge for important trophies this year.
#2 Jack Draper
Jack Draper has been slowly blossoming into a serious contender on tour. He made a name for himself on the ATP Challenger circuit and has quickly found his feet on the main tour.
The Brit showed promising signs last year by defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the Queen's Club Championships on grass. He then reached the semifinals of the US Open but couldn't make his mark against Jannik Sinner.
Draper has continued to move in the right direction, winning his first Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open. He also reached the finals of the Madrid Open but fell short against Casper Ruud.
The 23-year-old was outside the top 15 last year but is currently among the top five players in the world. On tour, he will surely be a threat to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
#1 Ben Shelton
First on the list is Ben Shelton.
Shelton is a force to be reckoned with on the men's tour. He announced himself to the big leagues by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the US Open in 2023.
The American has captured two titles in the past two years and recently secured a runner-up finish in Munich (2025). He also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open (2025) but lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Shelton has shown the ability to handle high-pressure moments on tour. If the youngster is more consistent at the highest level, he will surely be a threat to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The 22-year-old has defeated Sinner in the past but has yet to solve the riddle against Carlos Alcaraz. He managed to take a set off the Spaniard at the French Open but eventually lost in the fourth round, 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
