Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz definitely hit a wall in 2026, winning significantly fewer Grand Slams than they did in both 2024 and 2025. This wasn’t the dominant run we’d come to expect from these two, and it’s got former US Open champion Andy Roddick weighing in with a pretty frank assessment. The Italian superstar snagged Wimbledon, and the Spaniard took the Australian Open, but that was it for their major haul. The other two Grand Slams? Those went to Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who finally got his first major title, and honestly, good for him.
The Big Drop and The Longevity Question
Let’s look at the numbers. In 2024, Alcaraz and Sinner shared all four Grand Slams, two apiece. They did the exact same thing in 2025. That’s eight majors between them in two years! But 2026? Just two. Roddick is saying that both players are running into a major issue that could stop them from ever touching the records set by legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams. He asked on ‘Served with Andy Roddick,’ “Is it 12, is it 15, can one of these two get to 20 like the icons and the Big Three?” It’s a huge question, and 2026 just made it a lot tougher to answer yes.
The Bill Comes Due: Injuries Pile Up
Roddick is blunt: Alcaraz and Sinner “paid the bill” for years of incredible success, and that bill was paid in injuries during 2026. He pointed out that Sinner’s body “went AWOL at the French Open.” While Sinner still managed to win Wimbledon, showing his top level, Roddick stressed that “your body has to hold up for a really long time” to reach the pantheon of the all-time greats. The one thing that truly blows Roddick’s mind about the Big Three and Serena isn’t just their skill or mentality, but “just how long they did it. How long their bodies held up. … dragging your body across the finish line so many times.” We’re seeing firsthand with Alcaraz and Sinner how tough that really is. Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, and Sinner had to skip the US Open because of a knee problem. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s the cost of being at the top for so long.
Alcaraz still has some matches left in 2026, but Sinner’s season is officially over. He pulled out of the Shanghai Masters and hasn’t played since Wimbledon, still battling that knee issue. Roddick’s advice? Sinner and his team need to zero in on that knee problem over the next few months. If these guys want to even think about chasing down the records set by the Big Three, they absolutely have to stay fit. That’s the real challenge heading into next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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