The tennis world is abuzz with anticipation as the 2025 season unfolds, and former world number one Mats Wilander has ignited excitement with a daring prediction: either Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner will achieve the elusive Calendar Grand Slam, winning all four majors—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open—in a single year. This audacious forecast, made in a recent interview, underscores the meteoric rise of these two young stars, who have already dominated the sport with their thrilling rivalry and breathtaking talent. As they battle for supremacy at Roland Garros, where Sinner holds the top seed and Alcaraz defends his 2024 title, Wilander’s vision of a historic 2025 season has fans dreaming of a new era in tennis.
Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, sees Alcaraz and Sinner as the torchbearers of the post-Big Three era, capable of achieving what only legends like Rod Laver and Steffi Graf have accomplished. “My very, very, very bold prediction for 2025 is that Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner will win the Calendar Grand Slam,” Wilander declared, his confidence rooted in their 2024 performances, where they split the four majors—Sinner claiming the Australian Open and US Open, and Alcaraz securing Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Sinner, now 23, boasts a 73-6 record last season, with eight titles, including four Masters 1000 events, while Alcaraz, 22, compiled a 54-13 record with four titles, including five Masters 1000 crowns. Their dominance, Wilander argues, positions them to chase tennis immortality.
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, now at 7-4 in favor of the Spaniard, has produced some of the sport’s most electrifying matches. Their latest clash in the 2025 Italian Open final saw Alcaraz triumph 7-6(5), 6-1, ending Sinner’s 26-match winning streak and reinforcing his clay-court prowess. “I’m just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level,” Alcaraz said post-match, praising his rival’s resilience after a three-month doping ban. Sinner, gracious in defeat, noted, “It’s been a great result just to be here in the final. I tried today, but that’s all I had.” Their head-to-head, marked by Alcaraz’s four consecutive wins, including a five-set epic in the 2024 Roland Garros semifinals, highlights a matchup where Alcaraz’s variety—drop shots, spin-heavy forehands, and net play—challenges Sinner’s clinical baseline game. “Carlos, his variety… he has to mix up the ball flight; he has to knock his head off,” said former world number one Andy Roddick, explaining why Alcaraz often gets the edge.
At Roland Garros, the top two seeds are on a collision course for a potential final, with Sinner anchoring the top half and Alcaraz the bottom. Sinner’s 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Jiri Lehecka in the third round showcased his relentless form, while Alcaraz battled through a testing 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win over Damir Dzumhur. “If I don’t play at my best, 10 out of 10, it’s going to be impossible to beat him,” Alcaraz admitted, reflecting on the challenge Sinner poses. Sinner, meanwhile, expressed confidence after his Lehecka rout, saying, “This morning I said to my team I’m feeling well and physically ready.” Their paths are fraught with danger—Sinner could face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, while Alcaraz might meet Casper Ruud in the quarters—but their youth and hunger make Wilander’s prediction plausible.
Wilander’s forecast is not without skeptics. Sinner’s ongoing doping appeal adds uncertainty, while Alcaraz’s occasional inconsistency, as seen in losses to lower-ranked players like Gael Monfils in 2024, raises questions about his stamina over a grueling season. Yet, their youth—both 23 or younger—sets them apart, making them the youngest top two seeds at a major since Federer and Nadal in 2006. “Alcaraz has two Grand Slams to defend but he is really good at working out problems,” noted pundit Gigi Salmon, while others believe Sinner’s precision could see him dominate. As Roland Garros unfolds, with Sinner facing Andrey Rublev and Alcaraz taking on Ben Shelton in the fourth round, the tennis world watches to see if Wilander’s “scary” vision of a Calendar Grand Slam will begin to take shape in Paris.
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