Haas choisit Alcaraz au lieu de Sinner

Few voices are more authoritative to talk about tennis than that of Tommy Haas. The German, a former world No. 2 and winner of 15 ATP titles, has had the opportunity to closely observe the evolution of the circuit over several generations and, like many fans, has surrendered to the phenomenon currently being led by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The Spaniard and the Italian have practically shared all the major titles in recent seasons. Between them, they won nine consecutive Grand Slams from the Australian Open 2024 to the Australian Open 2026, a dominance only interrupted by Alexander Zverev with his victory at Roland Garros. During an interview on the Behind the Athletes podcast, Haas was asked about the differences that make Alcaraz and Sinner such special players.

"You have to see them live to understand"

Before making comparisons, Haas wanted to highlight something that, according to him, often goes unnoticed by those who only follow tennis on television. "For me, it is always exceptional to see them when they come to Indian Wells. I sit courtside, and sometimes I like to observe only the player, without following the ball, focusing on their reactions, footwork, anticipation, concentration, and desire to win."

The German believes that current tennis reaches a completely different dimension when witnessed live. "I always say that until you see tennis in person, you don't really understand what happens. Television sometimes doesn't do it justice. You don't appreciate the ball's height, the spins, the different speeds. When you're courtside and see how they react and the power with which they play nowadays, it's truly incredible."

Haas chooses Alcaraz over Sinner

Although he acknowledged the exceptional level of both players, Haas did not hesitate when it came to choosing his favorite. "Alcaraz is probably my favorite player right now because he can do it all. He has touch, can defend with the backhand slice, can vary with the drop shot. You never know if his forehand will come out over 180 kilometers per hour, if he will play with a lot of spin, flat, or if he will execute a drop shot. You don't know if he will stay behind the baseline on the return, if he will attack, if he will go to the net, or if he will serve and volley. It's phenomenal to watch him play."

Although he placed Alcaraz ahead in terms of spectacle, Haas also lavished praise on Jannik Sinner, the current world number one. "With Sinner, you know what you're going to get. As soon as he has an opportunity to take control of the point, he does. He hits the ball with tremendous power and consistently finds extraordinary placement, both in depth and direction."

Nevertheless, he believes there is still room for improvement in certain aspects. "There's always room for improvement. I think Jannik can still progress in his net approaches and touch play, like drop shots. When he's at his best, he finds areas of the court where he hardly misses despite the speed of his shots. He plays close to the baseline on both sides, and it's very difficult to outplay him."