The 5 candidates to be the main opposition to Sinner and Alcaraz on the clay court tour
We review those names on the circuit destined to break the hegemony of the Spanish and Italian tennis players after the surface change to clay.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the main dominators of the ATP circuit. Not only are they the number one and number two in the rankings, but every tournament they both participate in is practically synonymous with one of them lifting the title. However, as the clay court season approaches, it is necessary to review the names of those players destined to break this dominance.
Last year was an anomaly, as the sanction imposed on Jannik Sinner allowed him to only play the Masters 1000 in Rome and Roland Garros. Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz got injured in the Conde de Godó final and missed the Masters 1000 in Madrid, opening the door for other players to shine in his absence. Nevertheless, the player from Murcia managed to win the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo and Rome, and Roland Garros, with Casper Ruud (Madrid) being the only one to lift a significant title during this season.
The five candidates to break Alcaraz and Sinner's dominance
Casper Ruud
In fact, the Norwegian player is the main candidate to challenge them due to his style of play. Ruud's ball is very heavy on clay courts, he has great mobility, and always performs well on this surface. His topspin shots can trouble anyone, although last year he was overwhelmed by Sinner at the Rome Masters 1000. Still, as a Roland Garros finalist like him, he must always be considered, particularly knowing that his chances are practically nonexistent on the grass court season, and now is the time for him to score points.
Alexander Zverev
The second contender is, unmistakably, Alexander Zverev. The German player remains the dark horse of the circuit, but he has reached the semifinals in all three major tournaments he played in 2026. In fact, he pushed Carlos Alcaraz to the limit at the Australian Open and also challenged Jannik Sinner in Miami a few days ago, where he played an outstanding match. 'Sascha' has already announced his arrival with confidence on the clay court season, an area where he usually achieves good results, making him a strong contender to surprise either of the two top players.
Lorenzo Musetti
Another clay court specialist is Lorenzo Musetti, who already posed a threat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 final last year. His performance on the clay in 2025 was impressive, reaching the final in the Monaco capital and the semifinals in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, where he had to withdraw again against Alcaraz due to physical issues. 'Lolo' needs to do well in this season if he wants to maintain his ranking position, and the only doubt remains whether he has fully recovered from his abductor injury suffered at the Australian Open, which kept him out of Miami a few days ago.
Arthur Fils
Another name to consider is Arthur Fils. The French player has returned strongly from his back injury suffered less than a year ago at Roland Garros, a time when he was already challenging Carlos Alcaraz and others. Fils is one of the few players who, both in his style of play and mentally, can compete against the two circuit dominators, especially if he remains physically fit and continues to gain confidence in upcoming tournaments.
Jack Draper
Lastly, Jack Draper should not be overlooked. Once again, his physical condition is the main question mark surrounding this player, but if he remains fit, he must be taken seriously. In 2025, he reached the final at the Madrid Masters 1000, and despite clay not being his favorite surface, he is expected to make significant contributions in the circuit. While he may not participate in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, this decision might be strategic to prepare for the other crucial tournaments in the season.
There are other players like Daniil Medvedev, Alex De Miñaur, or Taylor Fritz who may also win an ATP 500 or 250 event, but due to their playing styles, it seems unlikely that they could challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on clay courts. While there have been occasions when Medvedev (won Rome) or Fritz have caused upsets, they are expected to remain in the background in what promises to be an exciting season, where the battle for the number one spot will be intense from the very first tournament.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 5 candidatos a ser la gran oposición de Sinner y Alcaraz en la gira de tierra